With Pokemon Day just a few weeks away, excitement is building for more reveals about Pokemon Legends ZA. One of the biggest questions on fans’ minds is: When does this game take place? Is Pokemon Legends Z-A set in the past, the future, or just the present? Analyzing the teaser trailer and comparing it to Pokemon Legends: Arceus provides some possible answers.
The Legends ZA trailer presents a “beautiful vision of coexisting between people and Pokemon” as part of an “urban redevelopment plan.” One key detail that stands out is a mysterious symbol in the top right corner, which might play a crucial role in the game’s setting.
Comparing this with the reveal trailer for Pokemon Legends: Arceus, clear differences emerge. That game indicated a historical setting, with oil lamps, old-fashioned Pokeballs, and period-appropriate clothing. Even the town layout and architecture signaled a bygone era. While some modern elements, like lanterns, were present, the overall aesthetic pointed to the past.
The Legends ZA trailer, however, tells a different story. The architectural drawings appear much more refined and modern compared to Legends: Arceus. There’s a level of detail in the shading, line work, and structural depictions that suggests advanced city planning rather than a historical reconstruction.
Another noticeable detail is a character wearing a baseball cap. While this could hint toward a modern-day setting, Volo from Legends: Arceus also wore a similar cap, making that clue less definitive. However, another major indicator emerges later in the trailer—advanced city infrastructure.
A key moment in the trailer occurs when the cityscape lights up with electronic elements. The presence of a potential monorail system, illuminated streets, and a sleek, modern aesthetic suggests that this is not just any old city—it’s something futuristic.
Comparing this to Lumiose City from Pokemon X & Y, the resemblance is uncanny. Several elements, such as the umbrellas, outdoor seating arrangements, and overall layout, feel very similar. However, the Legends ZA trailer suggests an even more advanced version of Lumiose, possibly in the future.
One word that stands out in the teaser is “redevelopment.” This term specifically refers to new construction on a site that has pre-existing structures. Unlike Legends: Arceus, where Jubilife Village was built from the ground up, redevelopment implies that Lumiose City already exists but is being transformed into something new.
According to urban planning definitions, redevelopment includes financing, planning, and restructuring existing infrastructure. If Lumiose City is undergoing redevelopment, this suggests the game is not set in the past but in the future—or at the very least, a heavily modified present.
After analyzing the trailer, the evidence strongly suggests that Pokemon Legends ZA is set in the future. The advanced city planning, electronic enhancements, and the concept of redevelopment all point toward a time period ahead of what was seen in Pokemon X & Y. While elements of the past may still be incorporated into the game’s design, the overwhelming evidence suggests a more modern—or even futuristic—setting.
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