The 2025 Xbox Games Showcase pulled back the curtain on an impressive range of titles, including a new project fromGame Freak. Following other major gaming events, such as Summer Game Fest and PlayStation’s State of Play, Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase stood out with several surprise announcements and a stronglineup for Xbox Game Pass. One such title is Game Freak’s forthcoming action-adventure game,Beast of Reincarnation, which is set to arrive in 2026.
First unveiled in 2023 under the code nameProject Bloom,Beast of Reincarnationwill launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass. While this new IP is certainly enticing, it’s also worth noting thatGame Freakis a developer primarily known for its work on the mainlinePokemongames, which are tied to Nintendo consoles. As such, it’s surprising thatBeast of Reincarnationhas not been confirmed for the Switch 2, and there is currently no word on whether this will change.
Beast of Reincarnation May Signal a New Direction For Game Freak
Beast of Reincarnation Shows Off Game Freak’s Most Impressive Visuals Yet
With some callingBeast of Reincarnationa counterpart toGhost of Yotei, but for Xbox rather than PlayStation, the upcoming game is garnering attention for a myriad of reasons. Game publisher Fictions describesBeast of Reincarnationas taking place in “post-apocalyptic Japan, a land ruined by corruption and crawling with monstrous beasts, where humanity’s last hope may rest with Emma, an outcast cursed as a Blighted One, and Koo, her loyal canine companion.”
With its focus on a solo adventure alongside a canine companion, engaging combat, and striking visuals, some viewers were surprised to see Game Freak’s name appear about thirty seconds into the trailer. After all, it’s not uncommon for people to believe that Game Freak is a first-party studio owned by Nintendo. In reality, while the studio frequently collaborates with Nintendo andco-owns thePokemonfranchise, it remains an independent company.
The confusion is understandable, particularly withBeast of Reincarnation, which adopts a much more realistic art style than what Game Freak is typically associated with. While there are some breakdownsanalyzing Game Freak’s contributions toBeast of Reincarnation, which conclude that the company’s Gear Project initiative is primarily handling the game, the action-adventure title still presents a surprising twist from the company’s usual games.
Game Freak’s Upcoming ARPG Distances It From Nintendo
Considering Game Freak’s expansive repertoire, from developingMendel Placein 1989, which ultimately inspired thePokemonfranchise, its firstPokemongame in 1996, and nowBeast of Reincarnation, it has some wondering if there’s more to the developer than meets the eye. Three years ago,Pokemon Scarlet and Violetwas criticized for poor performance issues, which led some fans to question whether Game Freak was struggling to create games for modern consoles. However, with the trailer reveal forBeast of Reincarnationnot pulling any visual punches and designed for consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, it’s worth questioning whether all the blame should have been placed on Game Freak’s shoulders in 2022.
Regardless of whether themixed reception toPokemon Scarlet and Violetrelease played a part,Beast of Reincarnationis distancing itself from Nintendo by omitting the Switch 2 from its launch plans. The last Game Freak title not to launch on a Nintendo console wasGiga Wrecker,released in 2017; however, it was later ported to Nintendo Switch asGiga Wrecker Alt.in April 2019. Prior to this, in 2015,Tembo the Badass Elephant, published by Sega, was playable only on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. If acknowledhing the more complex backstory surroundingGiga Wreckerand its eventual Nintendo port, thenBeast of Reincarnationis breaking a decade-long tradition.
Game Freak and WonderPlanet Inc.’s casual adventure gamePandoland(2025) could also be seen as breaking tradition. However, its status as a mobile-only title means it was never intended for release on PC or console platforms.
