After something of a drought in 2024,Pokemonfans could be in for a huge 2025 if a new rumor is true. WhilePokemon Legends: Z-Ais already slated for a 2025 release, an alleged leak from notable leakerRiddler Khu suggests that a second mainlinePokemongamecould be released in the same year. While there is good reason to be skeptical of this claim, there is some solid evidence that could back it up.
Game Freak and The Pokemon Company have confirmed thatPokemon Legends: Z-Ais a mainline entry.
It may seem odd for thePokemonseries to get two major releases in one year, but this occurrence might be more likely than some fans think. The franchise skipped a mainline release in 2024, and with Nintendo’s Switch successor launching in 2025, it would make sense forPokemonto want to go all-out in the new year. Additionally, there have been mainline games releasing close to each other in recent memory, with the ILCA-developedPokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearlgames releasing just a few months beforePokemon Legends: Arceus.
Pokemon Fans Could See More Than Just Legends: Z-A Release in 2025
Arecent post on X/Twitterfrom CentroLeaks notes that Riddler Khu has been teasing a new mainlinePokemongame for 2025 in addition to the already-announcedLegends: Z-A. Allegedly, this game was not included in theTeraleak that occurred back in October 2024and is also not part of the upcoming Gen 10 games. While this information sounds enticing, it’s important to remain skeptical of Riddler Khu as a source.
While Riddler Khu has leaked real information in the past, their recent track record is spotty at best. Prior to the announcement ofPokemon Legends: Z-A, Khu had been teasing that the next mainline games would beremakes ofPokemon Black and White, which ultimately proved to be false followingLegends: Z-A’s announcement. However, if this new mainline game rumor turns out to be true, it could end up redeeming the leaker’s initial tease depending on what the new game actually is.
Predicting What Pokemon’s Rumored Second 2025 Mainline Game Could Be
There are several options for newPokemongames coming in the future based on the Teraleak, such as theleakedPokemonmultiplayer game, codenamed “Synapse.” However, with this rumored mainline game supposedly absent from the Teraleak, the door is open for a much wider range of possibilities. One option could be a newPokemon Let’s Gogame set in Johto, although that seems somewhat unlikely given the originalLet’s Gogames heavily relied on the novelty ofPokemon GOat the time.
The more likely option is that Riddler Khu is referring to theBlack and Whiteremakes they teased as early as late 2023. ThePokemonfranchise is already set to see a focus on Gen 5 in 2025, withPokemon GOintroducing itsPokemon GO Tour: Unova event, and thePokemon TCGscheduled to release two new Gen 5-themed sets titled Black Bolt and White Flare, respectively. The timing of these releases could be a coincidence, but they could also lend support to this rumored unannounced mainline game being the highly-requested Gen 5 remakes.
It’s not unreasonable to think that two separate mainlinePokemontitles could be released within a short time frame afterPokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining PearlandPokemon Legends: Arceusproved it was possible. If Game Freak is focusing development onPokemon Legends: Z-A, it’s possible that ILCA or another studio could be developingBlack and Whiteremakes concurrently. With Pokemon Day coming at the end of February, fans may not have to wait long to see if there’s any truth to this rumor.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
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Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an ambitious new entry to the Pokémon video game series, releasing simultaneously worldwide in 2025. A new adventure awaits within Lumiose City, where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon.
