Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation Breaks a 10-Year…

The 2025 Xbox Games Showcase pulled back the curtain on an impressive range of titles, including a new project from Game Freak. Following other major gaming events, such as Summer Game Fest and PlayStation's State of Play, Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase stood out with several surprise announcements and a strong lineup for Xbox Game Pass. One such title is Game Freak's forthcoming action-adventure game, Beast of Reincarnation, which is set to arrive in 2026.

First unveiled in 2023 under the code name Project Bloom, Beast of Reincarnation will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass. While this new IP is certainly enticing, it's also worth noting that Game Freak is a developer primarily known for its work on the mainline Pokemon games, which are tied to Nintendo consoles. As such, it's surprising that Beast of Reincarnation has not been confirmed for the Switch 2, and there is currently no word on whether this will change.

A collage of three great Pokemon games that were NOT developed by Game Freak: Pokemon Go, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky and Pokken Tournament DX.

8 Best Pokemon Games Not Made By Game Freak, Ranked

Despite how important Game Freak is to the DNA of Pokemon, some of the best games in the franchise have actually come from outside sources.

Posts 2

By Julián Jorge Fernández Loyarte

Beast of Reincarnation May Signal a New Direction For Game Freak

Beast of Reincarnation Shows Off Game Freak’s Most Impressive Visuals Yet

With some calling Beast of Reincarnation a counterpart to Ghost of Yotei, but for Xbox rather than PlayStation, the upcoming game is garnering attention for a myriad of reasons. Game publisher Fictions describes Beast of Reincarnation as taking place in "post-apocalyptic Japan, a land ruined by corruption and crawling with monstrous beasts, where humanity’s last hope may rest with Emma, an outcast cursed as a Blighted One, and Koo, her loyal canine companion."

With its focus on a solo adventure alongside a canine companion, engaging combat, and striking visuals, some viewers were surprised to see Game Freak’s name appear about thirty seconds into the trailer. After all, it's not uncommon for people to believe that Game Freak is a first-party studio owned by Nintendo. In reality, while the studio frequently collaborates with Nintendo and co-owns the Pokemon franchise, it remains an independent company.

The confusion is understandable, particularly with Beast of Reincarnation, which adopts a much more realistic art style than what Game Freak is typically associated with. While there are some breakdowns analyzing Game Freak's contributions to Beast of Reincarnation, which conclude that the company's Gear Project initiative is primarily handling the game, the action-adventure title still presents a surprising twist from the company's usual games.

Game Freak's Upcoming ARPG Distances It From Nintendo

pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-porygon-switch-2-mass-outbreak-live

Considering Game Freak's expansive repertoire, from developing Mendel Place in 1989, which ultimately inspired the Pokemon franchise, its first Pokemon game in 1996, and now Beast of Reincarnation, it has some wondering if there's more to the developer than meets the eye. Three years ago, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was criticized for poor performance issues, which led some fans to question whether Game Freak was struggling to create games for modern consoles. However, with the trailer reveal for Beast of Reincarnation not pulling any visual punches and designed for consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, it’s worth questioning whether all the blame should have been placed on Game Freak’s shoulders in 2022.

Regardless of whether the mixed reception to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release played a part, Beast of Reincarnation is distancing itself from Nintendo by omitting the Switch 2 from its launch plans. The last Game Freak title not to launch on a Nintendo console was Giga Wrecker, released in 2017; however, it was later ported to Nintendo Switch as Giga Wrecker Alt. In April 2019. Prior to this, in 2015, Tembo the Badass Elephant, published by Sega, was playable only on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. If acknowledhing the more complex backstory surrounding Giga Wrecker and its eventual Nintendo port, then Beast of Reincarnation is breaking a decade-long tradition.

Game Freak and WonderPlanet Inc.'s casual adventure game Pandoland (2025) could also be seen as breaking tradition. However, its status as a mobile-only title means it was never intended for release on PC or console platforms.

Image