Pokemon Legends Z-A Auto-Save Change Draws Fan Criticism Ahead of Release

A significant controversy has emerged in the lead-up to the release of Pokemon Legends Z-A, the highly anticipated next entry in the long-running Pokémon franchise developed by Game Freak for the Nintendo Switch.

Recent reports from early access sources reveal that Pokemon Legends Z-A introduces a mandatory autosave system, eliminating the long-standing ability for players to manually disable the feature. Since the debut of autosave in Pokémon Sword and Shield, players have been able to toggle the system on or off according to their preferences.

However, Pokemon Legends Z-A’s settings menu no longer includes the option to switch off autosave, a notable change from previous entries in the series.

This adjustment brings the title further in line with broader industry trends, as several modern games enforce autosave functionality by default. This move has quickly garnered criticism from segments of the Pokémon community.

Veteran players and competitive enthusiasts often utilize manual save management to optimize gameplay.

For instance, having only a single save slot has long compelled Pokémon fans to carefully manage their progress, whether resetting for preferred starter Pokémon, targeting optimal natures, or engaging in Shiny hunting.

The inability to turn off autosave in Pokemon Legends Z-A raises concerns about accidentally overwriting important moments or losing control over key aspects of their playthroughs. Moreover, some fans worry that the lack of a manual save option could increase vulnerability to so-called 'soft-locks' and glitches.

If an autosave occurs after a problematic event or glitch, players could be left with a compromised save file and no backup options, complicating recovery and potentially affecting progression. A spokesperson for Game Freak has not issued an official comment regarding these changes at this time.

Previous entries in the Pokémon series, notably Pokémon Sword and Shield, allowed for autosave customization to balance modern conveniences with player autonomy—making Pokemon Legends Z-A an outlier within recent releases. Pokemon Legends Z-A is one of the Nintendo Switch's most anticipated exclusives, set to continue the legacy of innovation seen in recent franchise reinventions.

As launch approaches, it remains to be seen how this design decision will influence both gameplay and fan reception.

For continued updates and official announcements, keep an eye on the Nintendo Direct presentations and the Nintendo eShop listings.

Pokémon Pokemon Pokemon Legends Z-A Z Game Freak Nintendo Nintendo Switch Pokemon Sword and Shield