Recent social media leaks have revealed intriguing details about the development process behind Pokemon Legends: Z-A, suggesting the game underwent significant conceptual changes before settling on its current Kalos region setting. According to these unverified reports, the project originally envisioned a journey through the Johto region rather than the now-confirmed Lumiose City location.

The leaked information further indicates that what eventually became Pokemon Legends: Z-A was initially planned as two separate versions, each themed around the legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh and Lugia respectively. This dual-version approach would have mirrored the classic Pokemon release strategy while exploring the rich mythology surrounding these iconic creatures.

The Johto region holds a special place in Pokemon history, having first appeared in Pokemon Gold and Silver as the neighboring region to the original Kanto. Inspired by Japan's Kansai region, which includes cultural centers like Kyoto and Osaka, Johto introduced numerous innovations that became franchise staples. These included the debut of 100 new Pokemon species, held items, Pokemon Eggs, and the introduction of Dark and Steel types. Pokemon Gold and Silver also marked the first time Legendary Pokemon appeared on box art, featuring Ho-Oh and Lugia as the respective mascots.

The timing of these revelations is particularly interesting, given that 2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Pokemon Gold and Silver. According to prominent Pokemon leaker Centro on Twitter, Pokemon Legends: Z-A was initially drafted as Pokemon Legends: Ho-Oh and Lugia, with the dual versions drawing inspiration from the classic Gold and Silver games. Similar to how Pokemon Legends: Arceus explored ancient Sinnoh (then known as the Hisui region), this Johto-based project would have transported players to the region's historical past.

The proposed storyline would have delved into the origins of Pokemon trainers and explored the dramatic rebirth of the legendary beasts Raikou, Entei, and Suicune following the catastrophic fire that destroyed the Brass Tower. This narrative would have provided deep lore connections to one of Pokemon's most compelling mythological events.

The reasons behind The Pokemon Company's decision to shift from Johto to Kalos remain unclear, though fans should approach all leaked information with appropriate skepticism. The Centro leaks about Pokemon Legends: Ho-Oh and Lugia were part of a larger information release on October 13 that also contained details about Pokemon Legends: Z-A and preliminary information about Pokemon's upcoming tenth generation of mainline games.

While it remains uncertain when or if Pokemon will revisit the Johto region in future Legends titles, Pokemon Legends: Z-A represents the evolution of those initial concepts. As trainers eagerly anticipate their return to Kalos in the upcoming game, only time will tell whether The Pokemon Company will eventually circle back to explore Johto's rich historical potential in future installments of the Legends series.

Latest Game Information