Pokemon Legends: Z-A Auto-Save Feature Confirmed—No Option to Disable Autosave in Latest Nintendo Switch Release

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is generating significant buzz ahead of its official launch, as new details regarding its save system emerge.

Developed by Game Freak for the Nintendo Switch, this highly anticipated entry in the Pokémon franchise introduces several innovations to the series while retaining the adventure-RPG formula that fans have come to expect.

However, recent verified information confirms a core gameplay change: Pokemon Legends: Z-A utilizes a mandatory autosave feature with no setting available to turn autosave off. Historically, the ability to manually control save states has been a staple of the Pokémon series, allowing players to save and reload ahead of crucial moments—most notably when attempting to capture rare Pokémon, such as coveted Shiny variants.

In previous titles like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players could save in front of a Shiny Pokémon and reload if the capture attempt failed.

For enthusiasts of "soft-resetting," this mechanic was critical to pursuing perfect Pokémon encounters. However, comprehensive information that has surfaced online from multiple sources, including posts originally highlighted by Centro Leaks, confirms that in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the options menu does not include the ability to disable autosave.

This change means players will be unable to revert to earlier saves, making captures—including those of rare Pokémon—potentially irreversible.

This shift follows a growing trend in recent franchise entries, such as the removal of Exp.

Share toggles in Pokémon Sword and Shield and further restrictions on player-based customization. In a statement summarized from released details, it was reported that Game Freak has not indicated plans to introduce a manual save toggle via a day one patch or future update.

For now, every action in Pokemon Legends: Z-A appears to be permanently recorded, impacting strategies for capturing Shiny Pokémon and influencing how completionists approach gameplay.

This is particularly significant for fans familiar with previous games, where manual interaction with save files provided a safety net for challenging or unexpected in-game moments. The absentee manual save option builds on Game Freak's decision to "Shiny-lock" most static and legendary Pokémon in recent titles, including all legendaries in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

If the practice continues in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and if any static Pokémon encounters remain Shiny-eligible, the forced autosave functionality means traditional soft-resetting methods to hunt for Shinies will no longer be viable. While some casual players may not be impacted by this update, the change represents a fundamental alteration for long-standing series fans and competitive players who value precise control over their progress.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is set to release exclusively for Nintendo Switch later this year, promising new gameplay experiences while also evolving how players interact with the world of Pokémon. Keep up with the latest verified developments on Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Nintendo Direct announcements, or eShop releases to stay informed about any future updates to the game’s autosave functionality or additional features.

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