After the source code and early builds for Pokémon Legends: Z-A leaked yesterday, things were already looking pretty bleak at Game Freak and the Pokémon Company. Indeed, with their latest title literally datamined to hell a whole week before it’s release and their entire development history for the game put online with it, the situation was already rather dire on the corporate side. Their plans were smashed to pieces, spoilers for their games had flooded the internet, and every screw up the team made when it came to implementing was now on show for the entire world.
But now, things have taken an even crazier turn. Why? Because in addition to the source code and early betas for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, hackers have now released the company’s entire schedule up until 2030, generation 10 and 11 plans included. It’s an insane development, and one which is sure to cause all sorts of havoc at Nintendo for the foreseeable future.
Game Freak’s planned schedule for upcoming Pokémon games
Still, since it’s out there, here’s what the company is planning going forward:
The Game Freak Roadmap
2026
Generation 10, previously codenamed Gaia. Apparently the games are now known as Pokémon Wind and Pokemon Wave, has MMO features and procedurally generated islands to explore, and is set in a region based on Southeast Asia. They’re Switch 2 exclusives, have a brand-new graphics engine, and have a gameplay structure with both gyms and challenges based on the 18 Pokemon types.
A WIP screenshot and render for Pokémon Wind & Wave, the 10th generation Pokemon games
2027
Pokémon Legends: Galar (or whatever it’ll be called). Apparently, it’s set 1,000 years in the past and has you trying to create the first Gigamax Poke Ball.
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- More concept art for the next Pokemon Legends game, set in the Galar region
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- Concept art for the next Pokemon Legends game, set in the Galar region
2029
An all-new type of Pokémon game codenamed Project Seed, set in the Japan based regions from the first 4 generations. Apparently, it’s the first multi-region game in the series.
Concept art for Project Seed, a game set in the first 4 regions
2030
Finally, generation 11 is set to be released in 2030, at least if all goes to plan. We know nothing about this one, which is to be expected given that it’s likely not even in the planning stages yet.
A screenshot confirming generation 11 is planned for 2030
Yeah, there’s quite a lot on the horizon isn’t there? In fact, there’s so much on the horizon here that we genuinely worry the company is spreading itself too thin, and not giving their games time to breathe. It’s already an issue with Sword, Shield, Scarlet and Violet as is, and now they’re adding MMO functionality and multi-region games to the mix? On a new system they haven’t even learnt the hardware for?
That’s quite the tall order right there. Game Freak and the Pokémon Company better be damn confident in their ability to deliver some of this stuff, or some rocky game development is coming in the near future.
Regardless, what’s truly shocking about this leak isn’t just what games are coming or how ambitious they are.
It’s how much we actually know about them here. We don’t just have a few vague story details or a title here; we’ve got concept art and screenshots from the games’ development. We’ve got engine tech demos and tests. We’ve got internal slideshows and emails and other information about how the main series and Legends games differ and what the company plans to focus on going forward.
We’ve not just got a few details here. We’ve got a whole company’s roadmap and everything they’ve worked on so far in public online. Yeah, things could change. Games could be retooled or cancelled or whatever else.
But it’s likely the gist of what’s here is staying the same for the next few years at least. Pokémon Day and Nintendo Direct plans have likely been scuppered, and just about every surprise the series was meant to have going forward has now been blown wide open. It’s all shocking stuff, and it’s likely Nintendo won’t be all too pleased is now out in the wild.
So, if you’re the hacker that actually released the Teraleak stuff and helped push this info out in the world… yeah, you’d probably better lay low for the next decade or so. Because Nintendo and the Pokémon Company are likely even more angry with you than ever before, and the digital manhunt for your info and location is probably going to kick up a gear or ten going forward.
Regardless, what do you think about these leaks and the games Game Freak has planned going forward? Are you excited for Pokémon Wind and Wave? What’s the likelihood that we’ll actually get that multi-region game the company is seemingly wanting to make?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below, on social media, or on our Discord server today!
Source:
Pokémon Games and DLC Roadmap Allegedly Revealed in New Datamine (Insider Gaming)