Nintendo may have unintentionally revealed a multiplayer mode forPokemon Legends: Z-Awith a reference to the game’s previously unannounced “Link Play” menu. With just a few months until its October 16 release, the hype surroundingPokemon Legends: Z-Acontinues to grow with each new announcement. However, Pokemon trainers eager to explore Lumiose City are still searching for any tidbit of extra information they can glean prior to the game’s official debut, fueling numerous fan theories.
As one of the most anticipated games of 2025, there has been an abundance ofrumors and speculation surroundingPokemon Legends: Z-A. As the secondLegendsgame following 2022’sPokemon Legends: Arceus, fans have naturally begun comparingPokemon Legends: Z-Awith its predecessor. The recent Link Play reveal introduces an aspect ofPokemon Legends: Z-Athat is similar toArceusbut has a unique twist, which some fans believe is evidence of the new game including a multiplayer mode.
The Nintendo eShoplistingforPokemon Legends: Z-Aincludes a note from the publisher that mentions a Link Play menu, which could point to the game having an unannounced multiplayer feature. According to the listing, players can access the game’s Mystery Gift function in the aforementioned Link Play menu after progressing Mable’s Research and unlocking Rewards. Although players could trade Pokemon andunlock Mystery Gifts inPokemon Legends: Arceus, the game did not have a Link Play menu, which could be a reference to how previous games required a Link Cable to connect with other players.
New Pokemon Legends: Z-A Menu Could Hint at Multiplayer
The game’s store listing does, however, include information that conflicts with the multiplayer theory as it currently specifies thatPokemon Legends: Z-Aonly supports single-player. The publisher notification also specifies that while redeeming a Mystery Gift orpre-order bonus forPokemon Legends: Z-Adoes require the user’s profile to be linked to a Nintendo Account, it does not require a Nintendo Switch online membership. Notably, the Japanese eShoplistingsays that “The number of players for internet and local play will be announced at a later date.”
Pokemon Legends: Z-Awould benefit significantly from the inclusion of multiplayer. WhilePokemon Legends: Arceuswas an enjoyable single-player game, the lack of multiplayer battling resulted in what felt like an incompletePokemonexperience. With thenew battle mechanics introduced inPokemon Legends: Z-Abringing a fresh take to the monster-collecting franchise, it would be a shame to restrict players around the world from testing out new strategies in friendly competitions with one another.
