This morning, we got our first in-depth look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic new Pokémon game set in the iconic Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. The trailer showcased exciting features like running on rooftops, changes to battling, and the return of Mega Evolution. Despite these revelations, many questions remain about the game's timeline and which characters from the Pokémon universe might make a comeback in this new setting.
That's where the community's insights become invaluable.
For context, while most Pokémon games are standalone, the original Pokémon Legends game involved time travel and featured locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl set centuries in the past, along with characters who were ancestors of those in other Pokémon games. Given this precedent, fans are curious about the setting of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, potential time travel elements, and the possibility of familiar faces appearing in Lumiose City.
Since the trailer's debut, fans have been meticulously analyzing it for links to other Pokémon games, uncovering numerous connections. The most direct link is the presence of AZ, a character who received immortality 3000 years before the events of Pokémon X and Y. In Z-A, AZ is seen managing a hotel in Lumiose City and appears much happier, reunited with his Floette.
az taller than a mf giraffe
But the connections go deeper. A particularly intriguing find is the potential presence of the Looker Bureau in Z-A. Looker, a beloved detective character introduced in Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in several games. Fans have spotted an office in the trailer that closely resembles the Looker Bureau from past games, suggesting that Looker or his protégé Emma might be in Z-A's Lumiose City.
Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A?
Another wild theory circulating among fans involves the game's protagonists. With the release of full character art, many have noticed that the protagonists bear a striking resemblance to Ethan and Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This has led to speculation that Z-A might involve a time-traveling scenario where Ethan and Lyra are transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose City.
am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra
Alternatively, fans have theorized that the protagonists might be related to Kalos characters Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist in Pokémon X and Y. While this theory, particularly the connection to Grace, is more speculative, it's fascinating given the Legends series' history of exploring ancestry.
ZA protagonist relatives
These theories could all be true simultaneously, given the unclear timeline of Pokémon Legends Z-A. The Pokémon series has a loosely sequential timeline with occasional alternate realities and time travel. If AZ is running a hotel, it suggests the game is set after Pokémon X and Y, potentially hundreds of years later, considering AZ's immortality and the futuristic look of Lumiose City. This could mean the protagonists and others, like those at the Looker Bureau, are descendants of characters they resemble.
ITS A SEQUEL?!?
One character that has caught fans' attention is a mysterious woman featured in the key art, resembling a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. This trainer type has been part of an ongoing Pokémon mystery involving a "Ghost Girl" who appears in a creepy scene in Lumiose City but vanishes without explanation. The presence of a similar Hex Maniac in Legends Z-A has fans hoping for closure to this mystery, especially since ghosts could persist for centuries.
New hex?
As we await the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, set for late 2025, more discoveries, easter eggs, and connections are sure to emerge from the footage, art, and news we've received. In the meantime, fans can delve into all the announcements from today's Pokémon Presents, including updates on Legends Z-A, mobile gaming, and Pokémon Champions, available here.
