Pokemon Developer Game Freak's New Game is Coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2026

Game Freak is known for its long history of Pokemon games, including the upcoming release of Pokemon Legends Z-A, but it has occasionally made other games. Its newest reared its head at the Xbox Games Showcase where players saw some of Beast of Reincarnation in action.

Beast of Reincarnation is described as an "expansive one-person, one-dog action RPG built around demanding, technical combat." In other words, it's very different from the typical turn-based nature of a Pokemon game and even more expansive than the more real-time gameplay of Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Beast of Reincarnation is not connected to Pokemon, of course, outside the technical skills of Game Freak, but it's an exciting new take from a popular and beloved developer.

In Beast of Reincarnation, players take on the role of a character named Emma, the outcast cursed as a Blighted One. There's not enough context to say what that means yet, but players are joined by Koo, her loyal canine companion, in a post-apocalyptic Japan overrun by corruption and beasts. These beasts are not going to be caught by a Pokeball either way. The relationship between Emma and Koo is a central theme of Beast of Reincarnation, as their bond brings strange powers likely needed to fight back the corruption and beasts.

As it stands, Beast of Reincarnation is confirmed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S when it releases in 2026. Because of Game Freak's pedigree, it is a bit of a surprise to see no mention of the Nintendo Switch, much less the recently-released Nintendo Switch 2. However, Xbox fans will be able to play it on Xbox Game Pass on day one, which is a surprise but welcome partnership.

Image