A recent update to the Nintendo Switch eShop has revealed the launch price for the upcoming Pokemon Pokopia, with the newest Pokemon game debuting with a surprisingly high price tag. The massively popular monster-catching franchise has seen no shortage of new games to get players excited about throughout the course of the year. Last month saw the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A as the newest main-series game, with a DLC already confirmed for a December launch. However, The Pokemon Company also has a surprising spinoff coming with Pokemon Pokopia.
First revealed by The Pokemon Company during the September Nintendo Direct, Pokemon Pokopia takes the franchise in a more light-hearted life simulation direction. Pokemon Pokopia puts players in control of a Ditto who has transformed into a human appearance, allowing players to craft, explore, and befriend other Pokemon as they build their own village. The game has seen positive comparisons to Animal Crossing and Minecraft for its easygoing gameplay, with a cutesy and soft artstyle. Now, fans are getting an idea of how much Pokemon Pokopia will cost.
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Pokemon Pokopia's Launch Price is Surprisingly High
A new update to the Switch 2's eShop has officially revealed the launch price for Pokemon Pokopia, and it's higher than many fans had expected. The Pokemon spinoff will be debuting at full price for a new triple-A game release, with the digital version of Pokemon Pokopia priced at a staggering $69.99 for the simulation game. Pokemon Pokopia was also previously confirmed to be a "key card" release, with the physical versions of the game unlocking the full digital download instead of being fully contained on the cartridge. Pokemon Pokopia is scheduled to launch early next year on March 5.
Pokemon Pokopia's high price point comes as the Switch 2's prices have often been a point of contention for Nintendo. The console and games pricing for the Switch 2 caught flak from fans following its initial reveal, with the console retailing for $450 USD and Mario Kart World even selling for $80 on release. Pokemon Pokopia's status as a key card release has also been the source of controversy, with the spinoff being developed by Koei-Tecmo while first-party Nintendo games avoid using game key cards.
Despite Pokemon Pokopia's price, The Pokemon Company has already given fans lots to be excited about from the game's release. A recent trailer for Pokemon Pokopia showed off three new forms being introduced in the game, debuting Smearguru, Peakychu, and Mosslax in the spinoff. Pokemon Pokopia also previously confirmed that the game will support multiplayer, allowing players to pair up with friends to build their own dream Pokemon village within Pokemon Pokopia. While Pokemon Pokopia won't be cheap to pick up, the game looks to offer plenty of fun for any fan of Pokemon.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- March 5, 2026
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo, Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Simulation
