The new Pokémon adventure is coming in just a few daysand for fans of the license, the wait is finally coming to an end. Pokémon Legends: ZA, the brand new opus of the saga, is preparing to bring players back to Illumis, the famous city in the Kalos region. Scheduled for both Nintendo Switch and the new Nintendo Switch 2, this title promises to be one of the most important since the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
But what many players want to know now is: “What time will I be able to launch the game at home? » And if you are one of those who want to play it from the first second, these details are essential.
A worldwide release timed to the minute
The worldwide release of Pokémon Legends: ZA is set for October 16, 2025but as is often the case with Nintendo titles, the precise time depends on the time zone. Concretely, the game will be available at midnight local timein most parts of the world.
In North America however, Nintendo applies a unified rule for the entire region, which allows certain players to access it from October 15th in the evening. Here are the detailed schedules depending on your location:
- North America (Pacific) : October 15 at 9 p.m.
- North America (Central) : October 15 at 11 p.m.
- North America (East) : October 16 at 12 a.m.
- Europe (France, Germany, etc.) : October 16 at 00:00 (CEST)
- United Kingdom : October 16 at 00:00 (BST)
- Japan, Korea, Hong Kong : October 16 at 00:00 (JST/HKT)
- Australia : October 16 at 00:00 (AEST)
- Brazil : October 16 at 00:00 (BRT)
- UTC : October 16 at 12 a.m.
“The return to Kalos and Illumis is almost here. » – The Pokémon Company
A preload already available, with a light file… or almost
Players who want to be ready to play at launch time can preload Pokémon Legends: ZA now via the eShop. All you need to do is pre-order the game for the option to appear on your Switch home screen.
- On Nintendo Switch: the file weighs 4.0 GB
- On Nintendo Switch 2: the size increases to 7.7 GB
Please note: the Switch 2 should offer superior performance, hence the difference in weight, particularly in textures and visual effects.
A higher price on Switch 2, with a paid upgrade
The pricing policy is now clear. Pokémon Legends: ZA is available at:
- $59.99 on Nintendo Switch
- $69.99 on Nintendo Switch 2
And if you buy the Switch version first but then change consoles, upgrading to the Switch 2 version will cost $10. A console + game bundle is also offered at $499.99 for new buyers.
A DLC already announced, but partially available
Nintendo and Game Freak did not wait for the game’s release to discuss the future. A first downloadable content, called The Mega DimensionEast already on sale. If certain features are accessible from launch, most of the narrative content will only arrive on February 28, 2026.
The DLC will notably offer:
“The return of Mega Evolutions is almost here. » –Nintendo