Game Freak
Game Freak business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Nasty Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness Switch 2 bug that was costing players progress has been fixed: "This happened to…
A bug in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness that caused players to lose progress by forcefully quitting the game has been fixed. The issue affected the Nintendo Classics app version on the Nintendo Switch. Players can now continue their game without the risk of losing hours of playtime.
As Animal Crossing turns 25 in the golden age of cozy life sims, I love how Pokemon Pokopia and Tomodachi Life build on…
As Animal Crossing celebrates its 25th anniversary, the article reflects on its significant impact and influence on the cozy life simulation genre. It highlights how newer titles like Pokemon Pokopia and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream build upon the foundation laid by Animal Crossing, showcasing a vibrant and evolving landscape for life simulation games.
Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off Pickmon Returns with a New Name, You Won't Believe the Difference
The game previously known as Pickmon, a clear clone of Pokémon and Palworld, has returned with a new name: Pickmos. The developer, PocketGame, claims the name change better aligns with their brand identity and lore, representing a "grand ecosystem" and "great cosmos." Despite the name change, the game continues to face criticism for its blatant copying of monster designs from popular titles.
Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off in Hot Water as Publisher Intervenes and Takes It Off Steam
Publisher Networkgo has intervened in the development of Pickmos, a game heavily criticized for ripping off Pokémon and Palworld, and has removed it from Steam. The publisher aims to ensure a "controversy-free experience" and will evaluate the game's artwork. Originally announced for PlayStation 5, the game's future is now uncertain.
Poll: Box Art Brawl: Duel - Mendel Palace
This article compares the North American and Japanese box art for the puzzle game Mendel Palace, the debut title from Game Freak. The North American cover features a labyrinthine vibe with numerous characters and a gothic tower, while the Japanese version adopts a cuter, chibi aesthetic with a brighter castle. The piece also notes the game's recent addition to the Nintendo Switch Online NES library.
Japanese Charts: Switch 2 Hits Another Milestone As Pokémon Pokopia's Reign Continues
The latest Japanese physical game sales charts show Pokémon Pokopia remaining at number one, with its total sales approaching 1 million units. The Switch 2 console also reached a significant milestone, surpassing 5 million units sold in Japan. Other consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X saw considerably lower hardware sales compared to the Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch Online April 2026 NES Haul Brings Three More Retro Classics
Nintendo has added three new classic NES games, Pac-Man, Mendel Palace, and The Tower of Druaga, to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. Mendel Palace is notable as the debut title from Game Freak. These additions do not require the Expansion Pack.
Pac-Man & Game Freak’s first ever game join NES library on Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online has added Pac-Man, Mendel Palace, and The Tower of Druaga to its NES library. Pac-Man is a classic arcade port, Mendel Palace is Game Freak's first game, and The Tower of Druaga is a Japan-only action RPG.
3 NES games added to Switch Online
Nintendo has added three classic NES games to the Nintendo Switch Online service: The Tower of Druaga, PAC-MAN, and Mendel Palace. These titles are available through the "Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics" app for subscribers. Namco developed two of the games, while Game Freak developed Mendel Palace, which was originally published by Namco in Japan.
"Feels Like A Fleshed Out Beta" - Fans Are Unhappy With Pokémon Champions At Launch
Fans are expressing disappointment with the launch of Pokémon Champions on Nintendo Switch, citing a limited roster of approximately 180 Pokémon and the absence of key competitive staples like rental teams and certain items. Issues such as patchy performance, bugs affecting item and move functionality, and a lack of 6v6 battles have led players to describe the experience as a "fleshed out beta." The Pokémon Company and Game Freak are expected to address these concerns through future updates.
Pokemon Pokopia player decides Animal Crossing: New Horizons-style banishment isn't enough for their least favorite 'mons, straight-up jails them instead: "They are (mostly) comfortable"
A player in Pokemon Pokopia has created a jail for their least favorite villagers, going beyond the typical Animal Crossing: New Horizons methods of banishment. This build highlights the extensive customization tools available in Pokopia, prompting discussion about player freedom and ethical considerations within cozy gaming communities.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen devs found that "the programming sucks" in the original RPGs, but needed Nintendo's help on the remakes because they "hadn't gotten any better at programming since then"
Developers from Game Freak admitted that the programming in the original Pokemon Red and Blue was poor, making the remakes Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen difficult to develop. They required assistance from Nintendo, particularly for implementing the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, as the team felt their programming skills had not improved since the original titles.
April 2026: Switch 2 Drops Fortnite, GTA, Mario & Perso... | TAG
Multiple reports indicate potential price increases for the Nintendo Switch 2, with experts suggesting a price point over $450 by year's end due to rising component costs. Meanwhile, Kena: Bridge of Spirits receives a Switch 2 port that offers little improvement over previous versions. Sony is also reportedly increasing prices for the PlayStation 5 lineup, with a PS5 Pro potentially costing $900.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen's recaps, new Pokedex and lower difficulty were all designed to bring in more girls and elderly players, director of the remakes says in resurfaced interview
Junichi Masuda, director of the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen remakes, revealed in a 2004 interview that design changes were made to attract a wider audience, including girls and elderly players. These changes included lowering the overall difficulty and redesigning the Pokédex to be more like a notebook.
Pokémon fans want to save this ill-fated Gen 1 species, so they designed a new evolution for it
Pokémon fans have designed a new evolution for the ill-fated Gen 1 species, Paras, to give it a chance to overcome its parasitic fate. User Pikat on X shared a mockup named Paracide, depicting Parasect with a dark mushroom on its back, symbolizing its survival and control over its body. While an official evolution is unlikely soon, fans can enjoy this concept in games like Pokopia.
Pokemon Pokopia's hard-hitting maturity is the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of Pokemon
Pokemon Pokopia offers a surprisingly mature and engaging experience, blending life simulation, crafting, and building elements with a post-apocalyptic narrative. The game celebrates Pokemon's 30th anniversary by exploring themes of rebuilding and finding hope in a damaged world, appealing to both long-time fans and new players.
Pokemon Champions producer had a "heated discussion" with one of Game Freak's original battle designers about removing a complicated mechanic after 30 years to make PvP more accessible
Pokemon Champions will remove the IV stat system to make competitive play more accessible, a decision producer Masaaki Hoshino discussed with an original Game Freak battle designer. This change aims to lower the barrier to entry for players interested in the Player vs Player aspect of the series. The free-to-play title will serve as the official game for the Pokemon Video Game Championships.
Pokemon Champions producer "really enjoyed" the Pokemon Stadium games, and used them as a "reference" to help more players get into PvP
Pokemon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino discussed the game's focus on accessibility and simplifying high-level PvP battles for a wider audience, drawing inspiration from the Pokemon Stadium series. The game will serve as the official hub for the Video Game Championships, integrating various mechanics like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, and is planned to evolve over time with new Pokemon and content.
Pokémon Pokopia's second limited-time event adds Sableye in late April, but you can already cheat your way into it
Pokémon Pokopia's upcoming limited-time event featuring Sableye, scheduled for late April, can already be accessed early by players manipulating their Nintendo Switch system clock. This exploit, along with previous events, appears to have had its necessary files included in the game's initial download. The life simulation title from Game Freak and Omega Force has seen strong sales since launch.
Pokemon Champions Is Something We've Needed For A Long Time
Pokemon Champions aims to be a free-to-play, live-service battle simulator that keeps traditional turn-based Pokemon battles available indefinitely. Development director Masaaki Hoshino stated the game simplifies competitive mechanics like EVs and IVs to lower the barrier to entry. Set to release on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, the game streamlines the process of obtaining and training Pokemon for competitive play.