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Beast of Reincarnation and the Pokémon Problem

The gaming world was left reeling today with the announcement of Beast of Reincarnation, a bold new action RPG from Game Freak, the studio predominantly known for developing Nintendo’s Pokémon franchise. Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, the game’s stunning trailer stands in stark contrast to the studio’s recent Pokémon releases, which have faced ridicule for their subpar graphics and performance—even considering the Nintendo Switch’s relatively weaker hardware. Remarkably, Beast of Reincarnation looks competitive even alongside other Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 titles, leaving fans and critics alike questioning Game Freak’s capabilities.

For years, the studio has been labeled lazy or incompetent due to Pokémon’s graphical and performance issues, yet here they are, delivering a visually impressive new IP that likely won’t match Pokémon’s massive sales as the world’s biggest media franchise. So why can Game Freak pull off such a feat for a niche title but seemingly half-bake their flagship series? The answer lies not with Game Freak alone, but with the broader influence of The Pokémon Company.

The Captivating Reveal of Beast of Reincarnation

Image Credit: Fictions

Before we talk about Pokémon, let’s talk about Game Freak‘s new IP. Beast of Reincarnation, published by Fictions, transports players to a post-apocalyptic Japan, where humanity’s last hope rests with Emma, a lone warrior, and her loyal canine companion, Koo. This expansive one-person, one-dog action RPG, slated for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Game Pass and PlayStation 5, explores deep themes of humanity and survival.

The game’s lush, detailed environments—ranging from misty forests to vibrant fields dotted with oversized creatures and robotic foes—showcase a combat system reminiscent of Soulslike titles, with technical parries and intense battles. Originally teased as Project Bloom in 2023, this new IP marks Game Freak’s most ambitious departure from Pokémon. With its bold narrative and striking visuals, Beast of Reincarnation signals a new creative direction for the studio, free from the constraints of their usual work.

Why Can’t Game Freak Make a Pokémon Game Like That?

The disparity in quality between Beast of Reincarnation and recent Pokémon titles stems from the grueling development schedule imposed on Game Freak. They are tasked with crafting a new open-world RPG—complete with a fresh region, monsters, gameplay mechanics and hundreds of hours of content—every 1-2 years. This stands in stark contrast to other Nintendo franchises like Zelda or Mario games, which typically receive 3-6 years to develop, with the shorter timelines reserved for less ambitious projects like the Mario Sports games.

On other platforms, developers often take 4+ years to create games of similar scale to Pokémon’s. This rapid cadence explains why Beast of Reincarnation—benefiting from more powerful hardware and a longer development cycle—outshines Pokémon games, which struggle to match the visual fidelity of Xenoblade Chronicles or the forthcoming Metroid Prime 4.

The Developer Disparity

Some might argue that a 1-2 year cycle isn’t that unreasonable, pointing to annual releases like Call of Duty or most sports games, which maintain high quality visuals. However, the difference lies in scope and resources. Sports games are iterative, reusing models and environments with minimal changes, so popping them out every year isn’t as much of a challenge. On the other hand, Call of Duty leverages a coalition of AAA studios and over 3,000 developers to meet its ambitious annual goals—a franchise that rivals Pokémon in sales.

In contrast, Game Freak’s workforce totals just 207 developers as of March 2024, with a portion dedicated to Beast of Reincarnation, leaving even fewer hands on Pokémon. Even with assistance from Creatures Inc., the combined team falls short of 300 developers. Monolith Soft, creators of Xenoblade Chronicles, employs more staff and enjoys longer development times, producing stunning games despite selling less than 10% of a Pokémon title’s volume. This understaffing and tight schedule highlight the unique pressures Game Freak faces.

The Pokémon Company’s Chaotic Cycle

Image Credit: Nintendo, Game Freak

So why is Game Freak so understaffed and constrained to a 1-2 year cycle for a franchise as massive as Pokémon? The answer honestly boils down to money and The Pokémon Company’s broader strategy. Pokémon transcends video games, encompassing a lucrative card game, anime, and merchandise, making it the world’s biggest media IP. This ecosystem relies on a strict release cadence: a new game introduces a generation of Pokémon, followed by cards, anime series, and merchandise, with the cycle repeating every three years. This worked well when Game Freak crafted 2D handheld games, in an era where an ambitious AAA title could be developed in two years. However, the transition to the Nintendo Switch has increased development demands without adjusting the schedule, creating a mismatch between workload and time.

The second issue is Game Freak’s reluctance to greatly expand its team, unlike Activision, which scaled up for Call of Duty. I’ve racked my brain for years about this and the only logical answer is a cynical one: why invest more when Pokémon games sell 15-25 million copies per release, even with criticism? Despite the “disastrous” launch of Scarlet & Violet—riddled with performance issues—it outsold Sword & Shield, which had much fewer problems. Pokémon fans may voice complaints online, but their consistent purchases suggest little incentive for change. One can only hope for a more thoughtful rationale, but for any corporation, money is usually the true answer.

Final Thoughts

Beast of Reincarnation proves Game Freak’s potential when given time and freedom, yet the Pokémon franchise remains shackled by The Pokémon Company’s relentless schedule and Game Freak’s limited resources. As fans marvel at this new IP, the question lingers: will the pressure for profit ever yield to quality, or will Pokémon continue to coast on its cultural dominance? Although the Switch 2 Editions of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and Legends: Z-A are a good start, they still aren’t on par with most Nintendo first-party titles. For now, Beast of Reincarnation offers a glimpse of what could be, leaving us to wonder if Game Freak’s true talents will ever fully shine within the Pokémon universe.

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Beast of Reincarnation and the Pokémon Problem - Lords of Gaming - Pokémon News June 10, 2025 at 1:06 am

[…] Why can Game Freak pull off such a feat for Beast of Reincarnation but not Pokémon? The true answer lies with The Pokémon Company.View full source […]

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