You can play Pokémon Legends: Z-A starting at midnight local time on October 16, 2025, for your region. However, if you are on the West Coast of North America, the game will be available earlier, starting at 9 PM Pacific Daylight Time on October 15, 2025, due to time zone differences. The game releases simultaneously for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 with the option to preload it beforehand. This staggered release time means most players worldwide will gain access right at the start of October 16 based on their local time zone, except for certain U.S. time zones that benefit from earlier access the evening before. Preloading the game via the Nintendo eShop is possible for an immediate start when it launches.

In summary:

• West Coast US: October 15, 9 PM PDT
• East Coast US and most other regions: October 16, midnight local time

Make sure to pre-download the game for a smoother experience on the release date.