Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are no strangers to letting other developers take the wheel and create their own Pokémon projects, even without the direct assistance of franchise steward Game Freak. Next year, Omega Force will take a crack at the franchise with a unique life/farming simulator, Pokémon Pokopia, which could really make a splash on Switch 2.
Confirmed on X, Nintendo of America has fully revealed the release date of Pokémon Pokopia, which is set to launch on March 5, 2026. There is a catch, however.
Pokémon Pokopia Is Out On March 5, 2026
On Switch 2
While Nintendo typically announces release dates with a trailer or a small Direct-like event, Pokémon Pokopia was announced with a brief social media message. With a launch date of March 5, 2026, it suggests that the game is largely complete and ready to ship.
The premise remains fascinating in that players control a Ditto that is trying to look and behave like a human, serving as a vessel for the simulator genre’s gameplay. You’ll create your own settlement, cook, and craft as you meet new Pokémon and find ways to explore and conquer your sandbox.
At some point, fans are hoping for a more detailed look at the game ahead of its March release date, so they can make a better decision about what to expect from it. We know that there will beat least a trailer this Thursday on Japan’s Pokémon YouTube account.
Pokopia Will Be A Game Key Card
Much To The Chagrin Of Players
So here’s the bad news: Pokémon Pokopia will be distributed physically through the use of the Game Key Card system. In short, players can technically buy Pokémon Pokopia physically, but all they’ll get is a box and a cart that serves as a “key” to download the game.
It’s one of the most contentious elements of the Switch 2, and fans have responded negatively to the practice overall. While Pokémon collectors and hardcore fans alike can get a box, they won’t have a physical copy of the actual game to keep forever.
At this point, Pokémon is an inevitability, but Pokémon Pokopia isn’t something I had on my bingo card for 2026. I hope it manages to onboard players quickly and has a strong endgame to keep people coming back for more. We only have a few more months to wait and find out if it delivers.
- Released
-
March 5, 2026
- Developer(s)
-
Koei Tecmo, Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
-
Single-player – other players can visit your base via the internet.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
-
March 5, 2026