Pokkén Tournament: Insights from Developers on Mega Evolutions, Roster Plans, and Competitive Play
Pokkén Tournament, the highly anticipated collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Bandai Namco, is set to bring the world of Pokémon into the arcade fighting game genre.
Revealed recently by The Pokémon Company, the title merges the iconic creatures of Pokémon with the expertise of the Tekken and Soulcalibur development teams.
Weekly Famitsu recently published an in-depth discussion with key figures behind the project, shedding new light on game mechanics, the character roster, and prospects for competitive play. Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO and president of The Pokémon Company, described Pokkén Tournament’s core appeal as offering players the experience of controlling their favorite Pokémon in real-time and seeing them respond dynamically within full-frame action sequences.
Ishihara emphasized that this unique combination of engaging mechanics and authentic Pokémon behavior is central to what makes the game exciting, and that the development team is committed to making these aspects as immersive as possible. One notable feature fans can look forward to is the inclusion of Mega Evolutions.
Masaaki Hoshino, producer of Soulcalibur, confirmed that Mega Evolutions are a part of the Pokkén Tournament experience, noting that players may have already noticed Lucario transforming in the game’s trailer.
Hoshino elaborated that Mega Evolution is only the beginning, as the team is integrating additional elements that align with the distinct characteristics of the fighting game. Tekken series chief producer Katsuhiro Harada addressed questions about roster breadth and game balance, emphasizing that while Pokémon with Mega Evolutions exist, others do not, which the development team has factored into the game’s design since early planning stages.
Harada explained that the intention is to ensure the game retains a core Pokémon flavor with new mechanics and ideas that enhance traditional gameplay. Concerning the roster size, Harada openly acknowledged the challenge in including all existing Pokémon, saying that while there are over 700 Pokémon, the roster will be more focused.
Hoshino added that modern fighting games trend towards larger character lists, but Pokkén Tournament will prioritize variety and accessibility, ensuring each Pokémon is enjoyable and easy to learn. Despite the Bandai Namco connection, the developers clarified that Tekken characters themselves are not being considered for direct inclusion in Pokkén Tournament.
However, Hoshino hinted there might be subtle nods to Bandai Namco’s legendary fighting franchises that fans could discover during gameplay, adding a layer of enjoyment for long-time fighting game enthusiasts. As of the Famitsu interview, development on Pokkén Tournament was approximately 30 percent complete.
Harada stated that the team was taking deliberate steps to develop a robust new fighting system and aimed to continue this focus throughout the remainder of the year, with the first public demo scheduled for 2015. Looking ahead, Tsunekazu Ishihara expressed his ambition to see Pokkén Tournament become part of the annual Pokémon World Championship, highlighting its potential as a high-end arcade experience where players face off as Pokémon in dynamic battles.
Ishihara’s comments reinforce the company’s vision of the game as a meaningful addition to the competitive Pokémon landscape. Pokkén Tournament is slated for release in Japanese arcades in 2015, marking the next evolution of Pokémon in the fighting game arena.
With development led by some of the biggest names in both the Pokémon and fighting game industries, Pokkén Tournament is poised to become a must-play title for arcade and Pokémon fans alike.
Revealed recently by The Pokémon Company, the title merges the iconic creatures of Pokémon with the expertise of the Tekken and Soulcalibur development teams.
Weekly Famitsu recently published an in-depth discussion with key figures behind the project, shedding new light on game mechanics, the character roster, and prospects for competitive play. Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO and president of The Pokémon Company, described Pokkén Tournament’s core appeal as offering players the experience of controlling their favorite Pokémon in real-time and seeing them respond dynamically within full-frame action sequences.
Ishihara emphasized that this unique combination of engaging mechanics and authentic Pokémon behavior is central to what makes the game exciting, and that the development team is committed to making these aspects as immersive as possible. One notable feature fans can look forward to is the inclusion of Mega Evolutions.
Masaaki Hoshino, producer of Soulcalibur, confirmed that Mega Evolutions are a part of the Pokkén Tournament experience, noting that players may have already noticed Lucario transforming in the game’s trailer.
Hoshino elaborated that Mega Evolution is only the beginning, as the team is integrating additional elements that align with the distinct characteristics of the fighting game. Tekken series chief producer Katsuhiro Harada addressed questions about roster breadth and game balance, emphasizing that while Pokémon with Mega Evolutions exist, others do not, which the development team has factored into the game’s design since early planning stages.
Harada explained that the intention is to ensure the game retains a core Pokémon flavor with new mechanics and ideas that enhance traditional gameplay. Concerning the roster size, Harada openly acknowledged the challenge in including all existing Pokémon, saying that while there are over 700 Pokémon, the roster will be more focused.
Hoshino added that modern fighting games trend towards larger character lists, but Pokkén Tournament will prioritize variety and accessibility, ensuring each Pokémon is enjoyable and easy to learn. Despite the Bandai Namco connection, the developers clarified that Tekken characters themselves are not being considered for direct inclusion in Pokkén Tournament.
However, Hoshino hinted there might be subtle nods to Bandai Namco’s legendary fighting franchises that fans could discover during gameplay, adding a layer of enjoyment for long-time fighting game enthusiasts. As of the Famitsu interview, development on Pokkén Tournament was approximately 30 percent complete.
Harada stated that the team was taking deliberate steps to develop a robust new fighting system and aimed to continue this focus throughout the remainder of the year, with the first public demo scheduled for 2015. Looking ahead, Tsunekazu Ishihara expressed his ambition to see Pokkén Tournament become part of the annual Pokémon World Championship, highlighting its potential as a high-end arcade experience where players face off as Pokémon in dynamic battles.
Ishihara’s comments reinforce the company’s vision of the game as a meaningful addition to the competitive Pokémon landscape. Pokkén Tournament is slated for release in Japanese arcades in 2015, marking the next evolution of Pokémon in the fighting game arena.
With development led by some of the biggest names in both the Pokémon and fighting game industries, Pokkén Tournament is poised to become a must-play title for arcade and Pokémon fans alike.
