Game Freak Clarifies: New Action RPG Beast of Reincarnation Wasn’t Meant to Be Anti-Pokemon, “It Just Happened”

Director Kota Furushima of Beast of Reincarnation has clarified that Game Freak’s upcoming action RPG wasn’t intentionally designed to diverge from the studio’s established genres, like the beloved Pokémon series.

In a recent interview, Furushima shared insights into how the team at Game Freak arrived at the concept of a realistic action RPG, noting that it represents a departure from their previous work.

“We never set out with a strong intention to create something in a different genre or style,” Furushima explained. “Instead, we started with a solid concept and developed a gameplay style that would best bring that idea to life. It just turned out to be something entirely different from what we’ve done before.”

While Game Freak’s latest Pokémon title, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, marks the franchise’s first foray into action RPG territory with its shift from turn-based to real-time battles, Beast of Reincarnation aims to blend both styles in a unique way.

“We didn’t initially focus on a specific genre or style; we instinctively explored an idea,” Furushima said. “The core concept revolves around Emma and Koo navigating a harsh world, emphasizing the loneliness of survival in such an environment, yet finding comfort in the presence of a reliable companion. This desire to convey that feeling is central to the game.”

Though Game Freak is primarily recognized for the Pokémon series, the studio has ventured into various genres over the years, albeit none have achieved the same level of fame as Pikachu’s franchise.

Beast of Reincarnation is not solely a Game Freak project; the developers have collaborated with several partner companies to bring their vision to life.