Pokemon Legends: Z-Ais without a doubt one of 2025’s most anticipated titles, as it not only furthersPokemon’s legacy but also that of the groundbreakingPokemonLegends: Arceusthat came before it. To increase that anticipation even more now, Nintendo has unveiled aPokemon Legends: Z-ASwitch 2 bundle, making it the second bundle for the console alongsideMario Kart World. On the surface, that decision might appear to be a routine bit of marketing, but it actually hints at something much deeper — something that could even potentially be problematic.
When Nintendo revealed thatPokemon Legends: Z-Awould launch alongside a dedicated Switch 2 bundle, it undoubtedly raised a few eyebrows. Bundles are nothing new for the company, but seeing one announced this far ahead ofPokemon Legends: Z-A’s release feels like a choice worth looking at. It’s less about the bundle itself and more about the timing, as it is very rare that console bundles are announced this far ahead of a game’s release, and especially for a brand-new, very young console generation. Ultimately, it says a lot about Nintendo’s expectations, and Game Freak is almost certainly betting on some console synergy here.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Switch 2 Bundle Says a Lot About Nintendo’s Confidence in It
Switch 2 Bundles Are Rare, but Pokemon Legends: Z-A Somehow Gets the Nod
One of the main reasons thePokemon Legends: Z-ASwitch 2 bundle says so much is because of how rare they currently are. Of course, this is somewhat to be expected, since the console is still under two months old. However, this is paired with the Switch 2’s slow game release strategy, asMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananzaare currently the only two new first-party games exclusively made for the console. It’s interesting, though, thatDonkey Kong Bananzadidn’t get the bundle treatment ahead of its release and yetPokemon Legends: Z-Ais. Perhaps it’s not that interesting consideringPokemon’s following in comparison toDonkey Kong’s, butBananza’s impeccable scores and rising success suggest a bundle might be in order now, at the very least.
The implication is that Nintendo is placing a lot of faith inPokemon Legends: Z-A’s reception being positive, even more than it didDonkey Kong Bananza.Mario Kart World’s Switch 2 bundlemade sense, given the franchise’s evergreen status, butPokemon Legends: Z-Afeels like it could be a different tale.Arceuswasn’t a critical success by any means, and nowZ-Ais essentially downsizing that experience and keeping it locked inside the walls of Lumiose City — a choice that has raised some red flags since its reveal. Yet, somehow, it gets the nod for a Switch 2 bundle.
It could be that Nintendo simply knows something that no one else knows aboutPokemon Legends: Z-A. Nevertheless, the fact thatPokemon Legends: Z-Ais now next in line to receive its very ownSwitch 2 bundlesuggests that Nintendo views it not just as a major entry in thePokemonfranchise, but as a system-moving title in its own right. The rarity of the bundle increases the game’s status even more, strongly implying there’s more riding on the title than fans might realize.
Game Freak May Be Betting Big on Hardware Synergy
Furthermore, while Nintendo is ultimately responsible for bundlingPokemon Legends: Z-Awith the Switch 2, that kind of confidence still at least partially stems from what Game Freak is building for the future ofPokemon. With it not merely following the format ofArceusbut building on it with new features like real-time combat, a day-night cycle, and a fresh take on urban exploration,Pokemon Legends: Z-Ais essentially the guinea pig for what the Switch 2 is capable of achieving with aPokemongame, which makes the console bundle even more interesting. It’s a big bet, to say the least, considering the game was developed for the original Switch, not the Switch 2.
The fact thatPokemon Legends: Z-Ais now next in line to receive its very own Switch 2 bundle suggests that Nintendo views it not just as a major entry in thePokemonfranchise, but as a system-moving title in its own right.
Whether it lives up to that level of expectation remains to be seen, but the Switch 2 bundle givesPokemon Legends: Z-Aa spotlight that few games ever get. In the end,Pokemon Legends: Z-Anow carries the responsibility of helping to define theSwitch 2’s early launch legacy, but the hope is still that the gamble pays off.
