Koei Tecmo Calls New Pikachu Form “Unfortunate Pikachu,” But It’s Born from Affection: “We Were Surprised and Thrilled”

Your subscription is confirmed!

Get ready for your weekly dose of everything gaming, from the titles you adore to the ones you’ll soon be obsessed with, along with stories from the vibrant communities that support them.

Dive into our exclusive GTA 6 newsletter, packed with the latest updates, insider insights, and in-depth rumor breakdowns from seasoned experts.

From the minds behind Edge comes a weekly newsletter focused on the gaming industry, featuring expert analysis, professional guidance, and a glimpse into what’s coming next.

Tech enthusiasts, join our free newsletter for a weekly roundup of the latest tech trends, cutting-edge gadgets, and much more.

Don’t miss our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we keep you updated on Nintendo’s upcoming console, share the latest news, and recommend must-play games.

Subscribe for a weekly roundup of essential movie and TV news delivered straight to your inbox, including trailers, interviews, reviews, and more.

Enjoy sneak peeks, exclusive contests, and details about special events every month!

Takuto Edagawa, chief director at Koei Tecmo, shared insights on how the new Pokémon designs for Pokopia were crafted by the talented team at Game Freak. The team was particularly intrigued by the ghostly Pikachu design, officially named Peakychu, which they humorously dubbed “unfortunate Pikachu.”

In a translated interview, Edagawa expressed his excitement upon seeing the new Pokémon designs for the first time. “Since all the Pokémon designs were created by Game Freak, we were both surprised and thrilled when we first laid eyes on them,” he noted.

So far, six new Pokémon designs for Pokopia have been revealed, including Pikachu’s spectral form. Among them are two new Ditto designs mimicking humans, a mossy Snorlax called Mosslax, and a Smeargle that’s deeply passionate about its art, named Smearguru. The final design introduces the series’ first Pokémon professor, who is literally a Pokémon: Professor Tangrowth.

The transparent Pikachu particularly stood out to the team, especially given its status as the franchise’s mascot for three decades. “Pikachu (Peakychu) has a unique temporal and melancholic vibe that really impressed us. We affectionately referred to it as ‘unfortunate Pikachu,'” Edagawa chuckled.

Personally, I’m more drawn to the ‘Snorlax waiting to see gameplay of Beyond Good and Evil 2,’ but to each their own.

The director of Pokémon Pokopia envisioned an Animal Crossing-inspired experience while designing the grass for Ruby and Sapphire, aiming to let players “create their own Pokémon world.”