Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Switch 2 Bundle Might Say More Than…

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is without a doubt one of 2025's most anticipated titles, as it not only furthers Pokemon's legacy but also that of the groundbreaking Pokemon Legends: Arceus that came before it. To increase that anticipation even more now, Nintendo has unveiled a Pokemon Legends: Z-A Switch 2 bundle, making it the second bundle for the console alongside Mario 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 that Pokemon Legends: Z-A would 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 of Pokemon 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.

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By Liam Ferguson

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 the Pokemon Legends: Z-A Switch 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, as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are currently the only two new first-party games exclusively made for the console. It's interesting, though, that Donkey Kong Bananza didn't get the bundle treatment ahead of its release and yet Pokemon Legends: Z-A is. Perhaps it's not that interesting considering Pokemon's following in comparison to Donkey Kong's, but Bananza'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 in Pokemon Legends: Z-A's reception being positive, even more than it did Donkey Kong Bananza. Mario Kart World's Switch 2 bundle made sense, given the franchise's evergreen status, but Pokemon Legends: Z-A feels like it could be a different tale. Arceus wasn't a critical success by any means, and now Z-A is 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.

Pokemon Legends Z-A preorder trailer thumb

It could be that Nintendo simply knows something that no one else knows about Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Nevertheless, the fact that Pokemon Legends: Z-A is now next in line to receive its very own Switch 2 bundle suggests that Nintendo views it not just as a major entry in the Pokemon franchise, 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 bundling Pokemon Legends: Z-A with the Switch 2, that kind of confidence still at least partially stems from what Game Freak is building for the future of Pokemon. With it not merely following the format of Arceus but building on it with new features like real-time combat, a day-night cycle, and a fresh take on urban exploration, Pokemon Legends: Z-A is essentially the guinea pig for what the Switch 2 is capable of achieving with a Pokemon game, 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 that Pokemon Legends: Z-A is now next in line to receive its very own Switch 2 bundle suggests that Nintendo views it not just as a major entry in the Pokemon franchise, 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 gives Pokemon Legends: Z-A a spotlight that few games ever get. In the end, Pokemon Legends: Z-A now carries the responsibility of helping to define the Switch 2's early launch legacy, but the hope is still that the gamble pays off.

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