You can start playing Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at midnight local time in your region. The exact time it becomes available depends on your local time zone, so the game unlocks as soon as the clock strikes 12 AM in your area. For example, in the United States, players on the East Coast can start playing at midnight EDT, while those on the West Coast will have access starting at 9 PM PDT on October 15. The game is available on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and if you pre-ordered, you can preload the game ahead of time to play immediately upon release.

This release approach allows players worldwide to begin their adventure at the same local time regardless of their location, marking the start of a new journey in the Lumiose City-centric Pokémon world.