Pokémon Fans Are Frantically Trying to Work Out How Pokémon Legends: Z-A Connects to Other Pokémon Games

This morning, we got our first extended look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak's futuristic Pokémon game set in the familiar Lumiose City from Pokémon X/Y. While the reveal showcased exciting features like rooftop running, revamped battles, and Mega Evolution, many questions remain about the game's placement within the Pokémon timeline and the potential return of familiar characters.

The community has already begun investigating!

Since the trailer's release, fans have unearthed numerous connections to previous games. The most obvious is AZ, explicitly mentioned in the trailer. Given his immortality, granted 3000 years before Pokémon X and Y, his presence is unsurprising regardless of Z-A's timeline. In Z-A, he appears to manage a Lumiose City hotel, seemingly happier after reuniting with his beloved Floette.

az taller than a mf giraffe
byu/sam_90_ inpokemon

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Subtler connections abound. One intriguing discovery is the possible presence of the Looker Bureau. Looker, a popular detective from Pokémon Black and White, has appeared in several subsequent games. Sharp-eyed fans have noted an office in the trailer closely resembling the Looker Bureau from past games, suggesting the presence of Looker or his protégé, Emma, in Z-A's Lumiose City.

Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A?
byu/PrimalPokemonPlayer inpokemon

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }A bolder theory connects the protagonists to other familiar characters. Fans have observed a striking resemblance between the Pokémon Legends: Z-A protagonists and Ethan and Lyra, the player characters from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, sparking speculation about a time-traveling scenario where Ethan and Lyra are transported from Johto to a futuristic Lumiose.

am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra
byu/God-Kotsu inpokemon

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Another intriguing theory proposes a different origin story. The protagonists also bear a resemblance to Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist in Pokémon X and Y. This theory, particularly the connection to Grace, is less concrete but remains fascinating given the Legends series' past use of ancestral connections.

ZA protagonist relatives
byu/tismxtt inpokemon

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Remarkably, these theories aren't mutually exclusive. The exact placement of Pokémon Legends: Z-A within the timeline remains unknown. The Pokémon timeline is notoriously loose, incorporating alternate realities and, as seen in Legends: Arceus, time travel. AZ's hotel suggests a setting after Pokémon X and Y.

However, given AZ's immortality, this could be centuries later. Lumiose City's futuristic, expansive design in Z-A implies decades of development. If this is indeed the case, the protagonists and the Looker Bureau personnel could be descendants of the characters they resemble.

ITS A SEQUEL?!?
byu/Slyme-wizard inpokemon

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Another character fueling fan speculation is a mysterious woman from the key art:

New hex?
byu/Webby_webs inpokemon

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }This woman resembles a Hex Maniac from Pokémon X and Y. While several returning trainer types have been spotted, this character is particularly intriguing due to the unresolved mystery of the Ghost Girl.

In Pokémon X and Y, a peculiar scene unfolds in Lumiose City: a Hex Maniac appears, utters cryptic words, and vanishes. This unexplained event has captivated fans for years. The presence of a similar Hex Maniac in Legends: Z-A sparks hope for a resolution, particularly if she's a ghost who has continued to haunt the building for centuries.

In the coming days, further discoveries and connections within the revealed footage, art, and news are almost certain. While the game's release is slated for "late 2025," the abundance of new information provides ample fuel for speculation in the meantime. You can find all the announcements from today's Pokémon Presents, including Legends: Z-A news, mobile gaming updates, Pokémon Champions, and more, here.