Z-A Royale brings trainers together to battle against each other during the night, to rank up and have their wish granted.
Pokémon fans were treated to a surprise at the Nintendo Direct presentation on 27 March 2025, with a new trailer and more details revealed for Pokémon Legends Z-A:
The trailer featured the two sides of Lumiose City—which is different during the day and the night. Lumiose City appeared in the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y games as well. Pokémon Legends: Z-A was first announced in February 2024, and last month, the game confirmed its late 2025 release.
Wild Zones scattered all over Lumiose City during the day
Wild Zones are areas of the town where wild Pokémon can live comfortably. This is a space where trainers can attempt to catch new Pokémon to train. Some of these Pokémon are hostile, but trainers can get out by going to a safe zone. Despite this, there are Pokémon scattered all over the city. Some of them are even on the rooftops.
Z-A Royale: Trainers have more reasons to play at night
One of the most notable reveals in this trailer is the Z-A Royale, an intense tournament that takes over Lumiose City at night. As the trailer explained the city transforms into one big battlefield at night, where trainers can challenge each and rank up as they win. Progression in Pokémon Legends: Z-A revolves around climbing the ranks from Rank Z to Rank A, with players battling increasingly formidable opponents. One of the more unique mechanics is the ability to sneak up on trainers and ambush their Pokémon, similar to how Alpha Pokémon functioned in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Some trainers may even be too powerful to challenge at certain points, encouraging players to pick their battles wisely.
The trailer also teases an intriguing reward for tournament winners: a granted “wish.” While its exact nature remains unclear, speculation is rife that it could involve the long-awaited return of Eternal Flower Floette—a rare form of Floette that has never been officially distributed to players.
A minimap in the trailer displays a real-time clock. However, it looks like players have the option to avoid battles, with exit points from Battle Zones visible as well. So for now, it looks like catching Pokémon catching is still an option at night.
Main characters and more details revealed
Beyond the Z-A Royale, the trailer reveals plenty of smaller details that add depth to the game’s setting. The protagonists' default names have been confirmed as Harmony and Paxton. Additionally, the presence of Pansage, Panpour, and Pansear seemingly confirms that a wide variety of non-Mythical Pokémon will be available to catch in the game.
Several outdoor markets, reminiscent of Porto Marinado in Scarlet and Violet, can also be seen, hinting at a variety of shopping options beyond traditional indoor stores. The game’s minimap features fast-travel markers for both Wild Zones and Battle Zones, alongside icons for a café, side quests, clothing shops, and other interactive locations.
There’s still a lot of unknown features in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. For example, we don't know if there will be new Pokémon forms or Mega Evolutions. All in all, though, this was a much-needed closer look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A that gave players a better idea of what will set this apart from a mainline series entry.
