This morning, we had our first extended look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a futuristic new entry from Game Freak set within the beloved Pokémon X and Y location of Lumiose City. While the reveal showcased various elements like rooftop parkour, battle system updates, and the return of Mega Evolution, many questions remain unanswered. Fans are eager to learn precisely when Pokémon Legends Z-A occurs in relation to other series entries and which familiar characters might appear in Lumiose City.

That’s where the community comes in.

For context, while most Pokémon titles are standalone adventures, the first Pokémon Legends game centered on time travel. It prominently revisited locations from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl set centuries earlier, featuring numerous characters who were clearly ancestors of figures from other games—or, in one instance, a character from Pokémon Black and White who was seemingly dropped into the past by Arceus itself. Given this history, players are keen to uncover the exact era of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, whether temporal anomalies are involved, and which recognizable faces might surface in Lumiose City.

In the hours since the trailer’s debut, fans have been meticulously scouring it for links to other Pokémon games—and they’ve uncovered a surprising number. The most apparent connection is the presence of AZ, who is explicitly named in the footage. AZ is an immortal character whose story began 3,000 years before the events of Pokémon X and Y, so his appearance in Z-A makes sense regardless of the era. Here, he appears to operate a hotel in Lumiose City and looks noticeably happier now that he has been reunited with his cherished Floette.

az taller than a mf giraffe
byu/sam_90_ inpokemon

But there are far subtler connections. One standout observation points to the potential return of the Looker Bureau. Looker is a beloved detective who debuted in Pokémon Black and White and has since appeared in several other titles. Several sharp-eyed fans noted that an office shown in the trailer bears a striking resemblance to the Looker Bureau from past games, strongly suggesting that either Looker or his protégé Emma will feature in Z-A’s Lumiose City.

Looker confirmed for Legends Z-A?
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Another fascinating theory centers on the main protagonists and their resemblance to known characters. Now that we have full character art for Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s leads, fans have noted an uncanny likeness to Ethan and Lyra, the player characters from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This has sparked theories that Legends: Z-A may involve time travel, pulling Ethan and Lyra from their Johto and transporting them to a futuristic Lumiose.

am i going crazy or the new mcs are literally ethan and lyra
byu/God-Kotsu inpokemon

Yet another protagonist-related idea offers a different backstory. Some fans point out that the pair also bear some similarity to Kalos region Pokémon Professor Sycamore and Grace, the mother of the protagonist in Pokémon X and Y. The Grace connection, in particular, is a stretch, but it’s still a compelling possibility given the series’ past explorations of ancestry.

ZA protagonist relatives
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The most intriguing aspect of all these theories is that multiple versions could simultaneously hold true. As many have observed, we still don’t know where Pokémon Legends Z-A fits in the broader timeline. Over the years, Pokémon games have followed a loosely connected chronology that occasionally incorporates alternate realities and, as seen in Legends: Arceus, time travel to the past. If AZ is managing a hotel, that suggests the game is set after the events of Pokémon X and Y.

However, it could be centuries later, owing to AZ’s immortality. The strongest evidence for this is Lumiose City itself, which appears enormous and futuristic in a way that would have required decades, if not longer, to construct. If this interpretation is accurate and the game is set far in the future, then the protagonists and whoever operates the Looker Bureau would be distant descendants of the characters they resemble.

ITS A SEQUEL?!?
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Another character capturing fan attention is this mysterious woman from the key art:

New hex?
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This woman resembles a Hex Maniac, a trainer class from Pokémon X and Y. Although multiple returning trainer types have been identified in today’s news, this particular figure is especially noteworthy due to an enduring Pokémon mystery: the Ghost Girl.

In Pokémon X and Y, entering a specific Lumiose City building and ascending to the second floor triggers a strange event. The lights flicker, the music cuts out, and a Hex Maniac materializes behind you. She glides to the front of the screen, states, "No, you're not the one," and vanishes. This bizarre, unexplained moment remains a complete enigma—the girl is never encountered again, unlocks nothing, and appears to be a cryptic easter egg. Because this Hex Maniac has remained unexplained for years, her eerie presence in Legends Z-A’s Lumiose City gives fans hope that this unresolved storyline may finally be addressed. If she is a ghost, she could have haunted that building for centuries.

In the coming days, expect more discoveries, easter eggs, and connections as players analyze all the new footage, artwork, and details from today’s Pokémon Legends: Z-A reveal. The game is currently scheduled for a late 2025 release, so we have a bit of a wait ahead. In the meantime, there’s plenty of fresh information to explore. You can review everything announced during today's Pokémon Presents, including all Legends Z-A updates, mobile game news, Pokémon Champions details, and more, right here.