The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is Google's third-generation book-style foldable, refining the formula with a slimmer 5.1mm unfolded profile and a lighter 238g body. An 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner display pairs with a 6.5-inch cover display, both LTPO at 120Hz. The same Tensor G6 chip powers the Pro camera system — complete with Video Boost, HiLight, and 30x Super Zoom — while the composite matte back keeps weight down. It launches with Android 17 and seven years of updates.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Launch
Announced	August 12, 2026
Released	August 20, 2026
Updates	7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Displays
Cover Display	6.5" Super Actua OLED, 1080 x 2342 px, 399 ppi, 1–120Hz, HDR, 3600 nits (peak) — Ultra-Durable Glass Ceramic
Inner Display	8.0" Super Actua Flex OLED, 2076 x 2152 px, 372 ppi, 1–120Hz, HDR, 3600 nits (peak) — Ultra Thin Glass
HiLight	RGB LED notification array integrated into rear camera bar
Protection	Ultra-Durable Glass Ceramic (cover), Ultra Thin Glass (inner), IP68
Design & Build
Build	Spacecraft-grade recycled aluminum frame, multi-alloy steel hinge with aerospace-grade aluminum alloy cover, ultra-durable composite matte back
Colors	Olive, Obsidian
Folded	155.2 x 76.2 x 10.2 mm (6.1 x 3.0 x 0.4 in)
Unfolded	155.2 x 149.9 x 5.1 mm (6.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 in)
Weight	238 g (8.4 oz)
Platform & Hardware
OS	Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence
Chip	Google Tensor G6 (2nm TSMC N2)
Security	Titan M3 security coprocessor, quantum-safe secure boot, VPN by Google (included)
RAM	16GB (all storage tiers)
Storage	256GB / 512GB (Zoned UFS) / 1TB (Zoned UFS)
Triple Camera System
Main (Wide)	48MP Quad PD, f/1.7, 85° FOV, 1/1.56" sensor, OIS + EIS
Ultrawide	10.5MP Dual PD, f/2.2, 127° FOV, 1/3.4" sensor, Autofocus, Macro Focus
Telephoto	10.8MP Dual PD, f/3.1, 23° FOV, 1/3.2" sensor, 5x Optical Zoom, OIS + EIS
Zoom Range	Super Zoom up to 30x — optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x
Fold Features	Dual Screen Preview, Rear Camera Selfie, Tabletop Mode hands-free, Instant View, Made You Look
AI Camera	Magic Capture, Camera Looks, Camera Coach, Add Me, Night Sight, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, Auto Best Take
Video	4K@24/30/60fps (Video Boost), 1080p@24/60fps, Slo-mo 240fps, 10-bit HDR, Rear Camera Selfie Video
Video Features	Creator Suite, Video Boost, Night Sight Video, Audio Magic Eraser, Macro Focus Video, Cinematic Pan
Cameras (Front)
Cover Camera	10MP Dual PD, f/2.2, 87° FOV
Inner Camera	10MP Dual PD, f/2.2, 87° FOV — under-display
Connectivity
SIM	Dual SIM — Nano SIM + eSIM (physical SIM slot retained)
5G / 4G	5G mmWave + Sub-6GHz, LTE
WLAN	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz, 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth	6.0 with antenna diversity
NFC / UWB	Yes / Yes (Ultra-Wideband)
USB	USB-C 3.2
Thread	Yes — smart home networking
Location	Dual Band GNSS — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Satellite	Satellite SOS
Sensors	Proximity, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Magnetometer, Barometer, Hall Effect
Audio	Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones, Spatial Audio, Noise Suppression
Security	In-Display Fingerprint (side-mounted), Face Unlock
Power
Battery	4806 mAh — 24+ hours battery life
Wired Charging	Up to 50% in 30 min with 30W USB-C PPS charger
Wireless	Pixelsnap (Qi2.2) — up to 25W
Pricing
256GB (16GB RAM)	$1,899
512GB (16GB RAM)	$2,019
1TB (16GB RAM)	$2,249

The Google Pixel 11 is the most accessible entry point into Google's 2026 flagship lineup, and arguably the best value Pixel ever made. Tensor G6 on a 2nm node, a triple camera system with 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Zoom, a 4985mAh battery with 30+ hours of life, and Qi2.2 wireless charging at 25W — all from $899. With seven years of updates and Android 17 out of the box, it sets a new standard for what a mainstream Pixel can be.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Launch
Announced	August 12, 2026
Released	August 20, 2026
Updates	7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Display & Design
Display	6.3" Actua OLED, 1080 x 2424 px, 422 ppi, 60–120Hz, HDR, 3000 nits (peak)
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front), IP68
Build	Spacecraft-grade recycled aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin finish
Colors	Frost, Pistachio, Hibiscus, Obsidian
Dimensions	152.4 x 71.2 x 8.5 mm (6.0 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight	196 g (6.9 oz)
Platform & Hardware
OS	Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence
Chip	Google Tensor G6 (2nm TSMC N2)
Security	Titan M3 security coprocessor, quantum-safe secure boot, VPN by Google (included)
RAM	12GB
Storage	256GB / 512GB (Zoned UFS)
Triple Camera System
Main (Wide)	48MP Quad PD, f/1.7, 85° FOV, 1/1.56" sensor, OIS + EIS, Macro Focus
Ultrawide	13MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV, 1/3.1" sensor
Telephoto	10.8MP Dual PD, f/3.1, 23° FOV, 1/3.2" sensor, 5x Optical Zoom, OIS + EIS
Zoom Range	Super Zoom up to 30x — optical quality at 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x
AI Camera	Magic Capture, Camera Looks, Camera Coach, Add Me, Night Sight, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, Auto Best Take
Video	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/60fps, Slo-mo 240fps, 10-bit HDR
Video Features	Creator Suite, Audio Magic Eraser, Macro Focus Video, Cinematic Pan, Digital zoom up to 20x
Front Camera
Sensor	10.5MP Dual PD, f/2.2, 95° ultrawide FOV, Autofocus
Video	4K@30/60fps
Connectivity
SIM	Dual eSIM only (two active simultaneously; stores 8+ eSIMs)
5G / 4G	5G mmWave + Sub-6GHz, LTE
WLAN	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz, 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth	6.0 with antenna diversity
NFC	Yes
USB	USB-C 3.2
Location	Dual Band GNSS — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Satellite	Satellite SOS
Audio	Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones, Spatial Audio, Noise Suppression
Security	In-Display Fingerprint, Face Unlock
Power
Battery	4985 mAh — 30+ hours battery life
Wired Charging	Up to 55% in 30 min with 30W USB-C PPS charger
Wireless	Pixelsnap (Qi2.2) — up to 25W
Pricing
256GB (12GB RAM)	$899
512GB (12GB RAM)	$999

The Google Pixel 11 Pro XL is Google's largest 2026 flagship, bringing the full Tensor G6 experience to a 6.8-inch canvas. Sharing the same upgraded triple camera system as the Pixel 11 Pro — including the improved 1/1.95-inch telephoto sensor and 120x Pro Zoom — it adds a larger 5115mAh battery, faster 75% in 30 minutes wired charging, and 25W Pixelsnap wireless charging. HiLight, Android 17, and seven years of updates come as standard.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Launch
Announced	August 12, 2026
Released	August 20, 2026
Updates	7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Display & Design
Display	6.8" Super Actua LTPO OLED, 1344 x 2992 px, 486 ppi, 1–120Hz, HDR, 3600 nits (peak)
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with anti-scratch shield (front & back), IP68
Build	Spacecraft-grade recycled aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back — Obsidian has matte finish frame
HiLight	RGB LED notification array integrated into rear camera bar
Colors	Canyon, Olive, Fog, Obsidian (matte)
Dimensions	162.7 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm (6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 in)
Weight	228 g (8.0 oz)
Platform & Hardware
OS	Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence
Chip	Google Tensor G6 (2nm TSMC N2)
CPU	7-Core (1x 4.11GHz C1-Ultra + 4x 3.38GHz C1-Pro + 2x 2.65GHz C1-Pro)
Security	Titan M3 security coprocessor, quantum-safe secure boot, VPN by Google (included)
RAM	12GB (256GB) / 16GB (512GB, 1TB)
Storage	256GB / 512GB (Zoned UFS) / 1TB (Zoned UFS)
Pro Triple Camera System
Main (Wide)	50MP Octa PD, f/1.68, 82° FOV, 1/1.3" sensor, OIS + EIS
Ultrawide	48MP Quad PD, f/1.7, 123° FOV, 1/2.51" sensor, Autofocus, Macro Focus
Telephoto	48MP Quad PD, f/2.8, 23° FOV, 1/1.95" sensor (upgraded from Pixel 10 Pro XL), 5x Optical, OIS + EIS
Zoom Range	Pro Zoom up to 120x — optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x
AI Camera	Magic Capture, Camera Looks, Camera Coach, Add Me, Instant Night Sight, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, Auto Best Take
Video	8K@24/30fps (Video Boost), 4K@24/60fps, 1080p@24/60fps, Slo-mo 240fps, 10-bit HDR
Video Features	Creator Suite, Pro Stable Video, Video Boost, Night Sight Video, Audio Magic Eraser, Cinematic Pan, Super Zoom Video up to 20x
Front Camera
Sensor	42MP Dual PD, f/2.2, 103° ultrawide FOV, Autofocus
Video	4K@30/60fps
Connectivity
SIM	Dual eSIM only (two active simultaneously; stores 8+ eSIMs)
5G / 4G	5G mmWave + Sub-6GHz, LTE
WLAN	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz, 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth	6.0 with antenna diversity
NFC / UWB	Yes / Yes (Ultra-Wideband)
USB	USB-C 3.2
Thread	Yes — smart home networking
Location	Dual Band GNSS — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Satellite	Satellite SOS
Audio	Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones, Spatial Audio, Noise Suppression
Security	Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint, Face Unlock
Power
Battery	5115 mAh — 30+ hours battery life
Wired Charging	Up to 75% in 30 min with 45W USB-C PPS charger
Wireless	Pixelsnap (Qi2.2) — up to 25W
Pricing
256GB (12GB RAM)	$1,199
512GB (16GB RAM)	$1,319
1TB (16GB RAM)	$1,549

The Google Pixel 11 Pro is Google's compact 2026 flagship, packing the all-new Tensor G6 chip on a 2nm node into a refined 6.3-inch form. The telephoto camera gets a significant sensor upgrade to 1/1.95-inch, Pro Zoom now reaches 120x, and the new HiLight RGB LED notification array is built into the camera bar. It launches with Android 17, seven years of guaranteed updates, and Qi2.2 wireless charging at 25W.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Launch
Announced	August 12, 2026
Released	August 20, 2026
Updates	7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Display & Design
Display	6.3" Super Actua LTPO OLED, 1280 x 2856 px, 495 ppi, 1–120Hz, HDR, 3600 nits (peak)
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with anti-scratch shield (front & back), IP68
Build	Spacecraft-grade recycled aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back — Obsidian has matte finish frame
HiLight	RGB LED notification array integrated into rear camera bar
Colors	Canyon, Olive, Fog, Obsidian (matte)
Dimensions	152.4 x 71.2 x 8.5 mm (6.0 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight	204 g (7.2 oz)
Platform & Hardware
OS	Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence
Chip	Google Tensor G6 (2nm TSMC N2)
CPU	7-Core (1x 4.11GHz C1-Ultra + 4x 3.38GHz C1-Pro + 2x 2.65GHz C1-Pro)
Security	Titan M3 security coprocessor, quantum-safe secure boot, VPN by Google (included)
RAM	12GB (256GB) / 16GB (512GB, 1TB)
Storage	256GB / 512GB (Zoned UFS) / 1TB (Zoned UFS)
Pro Triple Camera System
Main (Wide)	50MP Octa PD, f/1.68, 82° FOV, 1/1.3" sensor, OIS + EIS
Ultrawide	48MP Quad PD, f/1.7, 123° FOV, 1/2.51" sensor, Autofocus, Macro Focus
Telephoto	48MP Quad PD, f/2.8, 23° FOV, 1/1.95" sensor (upgraded from Pixel 10 Pro), 5x Optical, OIS + EIS
Zoom Range	Pro Zoom up to 120x — optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x
AI Camera	Magic Capture, Camera Looks, Camera Coach, Add Me, Instant Night Sight, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, Auto Best Take
Video	8K@24/30fps (Video Boost), 4K@24/60fps, 1080p@24/60fps, Slo-mo 240fps, 10-bit HDR
Video Features	Creator Suite, Pro Stable Video, Video Boost, Night Sight Video, Audio Magic Eraser, Cinematic Pan, Super Zoom Video up to 20x
Front Camera
Sensor	42MP Dual PD, f/2.2, 103° ultrawide FOV, Autofocus
Video	4K@30/60fps
Connectivity
SIM	Dual eSIM only (two active simultaneously; stores 8+ eSIMs)
5G / 4G	5G mmWave + Sub-6GHz, LTE
WLAN	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz, 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth	6.0 with antenna diversity
NFC / UWB	Yes / Yes (Ultra-Wideband)
USB	USB-C 3.2
Thread	Yes — smart home networking
Location	Dual Band GNSS — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Satellite	Satellite SOS
Audio	Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones, Spatial Audio, Noise Suppression
Security	Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint, Face Unlock
Power
Battery	4850 mAh — 30+ hours battery life
Wired Charging	Up to 55% in 30 min with 30W USB-C PPS charger
Wireless	Pixelsnap (Qi2.2) — up to 25W
Pricing
256GB (12GB RAM)	$1,099
512GB (16GB RAM)	$1,219
1TB (16GB RAM)	$1,449

Google is ready to reveal its next generation of Pixel hardware. The Made by Google 2026 event takes place later today in New York City, with the livestream beginning at 6PM ET.

The Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold are all set to appear. Google has also revealed the Pixel Watch 5 ahead of the event, while a new Pixel Tag tracker could also be part of the presentation.

Watch Made by Google live

If the embedded player does not load, you can watch the event directly on YouTube.

What to expect

Google’s Pixel 11 family is the main attraction. The company has confirmed the Pixel 11 name and its updated store pages now list the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold alongside the rest of its phone range.

Google has also announced the Pixel Watch 5, which brings new Gemini-powered assistance, updated health features, and improved GPS tracking. Pre-orders open today, with general availability beginning August 20.

Pre-order Google’s new Pixel devices

Google has opened pre-orders for its new Pixel phones and Pixel Watch 5. US pricing starts at $899 for Pixel 11, $1,099 for Pixel 11 Pro, $1,299 for Pixel 11 Pro XL, $1,899 for Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and $399 for Pixel Watch 5.

These are non third-party affiliate links.

Check back with DJs Mobiles after the event for the full rundown of Google’s announcements.

The Redmi K100 Pro Max is the flagship model of Xiaomi's Redmi K100 series, featuring a 6.9-inch 185Hz OLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 200 megapixel main camera and an enormous 9,070mAh battery.

The Pro Max expands on the K100 Pro with a 50 megapixel periscope telephoto camera, 50 megapixel ultra-wide camera, larger cooling system, USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity and a 2.1-channel speaker system.

The full Redmi K100 Pro Max specifications follow:

``` ```

Redmi K100 Pro Max
Announced	August 11, 2026
Release	August 2026 (China)
Operating System	Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0
Thickness	8.45 mm
Weight	238 g
Rear Material	Glass fiber
Colors	Black, Gold, Blue, Red
Water Resistance	IP66, IP68, IP69
Display Type	Flat OLED, M11 luminescent material
Display Size	6.9 inches
Resolution	2608 x 1200 pixels
Refresh Rate	185Hz
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM	12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage	256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.1
Cooling	6,300 mm² ice-sealed circulating cooling pump
Rear Camera	200MP main camera with OIS
Telephoto Camera	50MP periscope telephoto
Ultra-wide Camera	50MP
Audio	2.1-channel speaker system with dual 1115D main speakers and Deco 2016 speaker
USB	USB 3.2 Gen 1
Fingerprint Sensor	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor
Battery	9,070mAh
Wired Charging	100W
Wireless Charging	50W
Reverse Wired Charging	27W
Reverse Wireless Charging	22.5W
Battery Technology	16% silicon content
Starting Price	CNY 4,499 (12GB + 256GB)
Memory Options	12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 512GB; 16GB + 256GB; 16GB + 512GB; 16GB + 1TB

Source: Gizmochina

 

The Redmi K100 Pro is a flagship Android smartphone from Xiaomi's Redmi brand featuring a 6.59-inch 185Hz OLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5V processor, 200 megapixel main camera, and a massive 8,580mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.

The device runs Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0 and also features a 50 megapixel telephoto camera, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and IP66, IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance.

The full Redmi K100 Pro specifications follow:

``` ```

Redmi K100 Pro
Announced	August 11, 2026
Release	August 2026 (China)
Operating System	Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0
Thickness	8.55 mm
Weight	218 g
Colors	Black, White, Shimmering Light, Cabernet Sauvignon Red
Water Resistance	IP66, IP68, IP69
Display Type	Flat OLED, M11 luminescent material
Display Size	6.59 inches
Resolution	2510 x 1156 pixels
Refresh Rate	185Hz
Brightness	Up to 2,200 nits full-screen brightness
Display Features	Full-brightness DC dimming
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5V Series
Graphics	Integrated Qualcomm GPU; Xiaomi D2 discrete graphics chip
RAM	12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage	256GB / 512GB UFS 4.1
Cooling	5,150 mm² ice-cooled circulating pump
Signal Chip	Xiaomi T1+
Rear Camera	200MP main camera with OIS
Telephoto Camera	50MP
Ultra-wide Camera	8MP
Front Camera	32MP
Fingerprint Sensor	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor
Battery	8,580mAh Jinshajiang battery
Wired Charging	100W
Wireless Charging	50W
Reverse Wired Charging	27W
Reverse Wireless Charging	22.5W
Battery Technology	26% silicon content; 945 Wh/L energy density
Starting Price	CNY 3,699 (12GB + 256GB)
Memory Options	12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 512GB; 16GB + 256GB; 16GB + 512GB

Source: Gizmochina

TikTok and The Walt Disney Company have announced a new short-form content-sharing agreement designed to connect Disney fandom with TikTok’s creator community.

The deal will give eligible TikTok creators access to assets from hundreds of Disney films and series, including content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and FX. Selected creator videos will also appear in a new Disney+ destination called Verts.

Disney content meets TikTok creators

The agreement is focused on fan creativity. TikTok creators who take part will be able to use approved material from Disney’s catalogue to create short-form videos, while Disney+ will feature a curated selection of participating creator content.

It is a notable change from the usual relationship between major entertainment companies and social platforms. Rather than simply promoting trailers and clips, Disney is building a direct path for selected fan-made TikTok content to reach its streaming audience.

A US pilot comes first

Despite being described as a global agreement, the first rollout is a US pilot planned for the coming months. TikTok and Disney say they intend to expand to other markets afterwards, but they have not announced a full launch schedule or country list.

Google has officially confirmed its next major Pixel launch. The company will unveil the next-generation Google Pixel 11 at its Made by Google event on August 12, 2026.

The event will take place in New York City and be streamed live. Google has not yet revealed the full product lineup, but its event page explicitly names the Pixel 11 and says pre-orders will open on the day of the announcement.

Pixel 11 is officially on the way

Google’s event page leaves little room for doubt: the Pixel 11 will headline this year’s Made by Google presentation. That makes August 12 the first official look at the company’s next flagship phone generation.

Beyond the Pixel 11 name, Google has not confirmed specifications, variants, pricing, or which other devices will appear on stage. Any claims about those details before the event should be treated as unconfirmed.

Pre-orders start on launch day

Google says Pixel 11 pre-orders will begin on August 12. Availability, final pricing, colours, and regional launch dates should be announced during the event.

DJs Mobiles will cover the confirmed announcements from Made by Google once the event begins.

Pokemon is the highest-grossing entertainment media franchise of all time, having generated over $150 billion in lifetime revenue. Not the highest-grossing game franchise. The highest-grossing media franchise. Full stop. It sits ahead of Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, and Mickey Mouse. Of that $150 billion, video games account for just over $30 billion, while licensed merchandise alone accounts for more than $100 billion. And yet, if you handed Pokemon Scarlet or Violet to someone unfamiliar with the series and asked them to guess its budget, they would not guess it came from the studio behind the world's most valuable entertainment property. They might guess it was a mid-tier indie title with an ambitious concept and a tight schedule. They would not be wrong about the ambition. They would not be wrong about the schedule, either. This is the central contradiction of Pokemon in 2026. The franchise has unlimited cultural capital. The studio making the games does not operate like it does. And the result is a gap between what Pokemon could be and what it actually is that gets wider with every generation. This piece is not a review. It is a design document. A thought experiment. What would the dream Pokemon game look like if the franchise were treated with the same seriousness its IP deserves?

The Studio Problem

To understand why Pokemon games are the way they are, you have to understand Game Freak. Founded on April 26, 1989 by Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori, and Junichi Masuda, the studio has 207 employees as of March 2025. For context, Rockstar Games employs over 2,000. Nintendo as a whole employs over 8,200 people. CD Projekt Red shipped The Witcher 3 with a team of around 1,500. What makes this more striking is that the small team philosophy is not accidental. Former Game Freak director Junichi Masuda told Game Informer that he would work with just 20 employees if he could, arguing that bigger teams create too many cooks in the kitchen and that communication is key to development. That philosophy built the original Red and Blue. It also built Scarlet and Violet. For the first two decades, working small was genuinely impressive. Red and Blue were engineering miracles on the original Game Boy. Gold and Silver famously fit two entire regions into a cartridge that had no business holding them. The studio punched well above its weight for years. The problem is that the franchise outgrew the studio somewhere around Generation 5, and the structure never changed to match. Pokemon Black and White represented the creative peak of what Game Freak could produce within its constraints. A genuine story with moral ambiguity, a rival with an actual ideology, a complete regional Pokedex, and creature designs that divided fans at launch and aged beautifully. N remains one of the most interesting antagonists in any JRPG. It was the moment the series showed it could be something more. And then it wasn't something more. Legends: Arceus, released in 2022, was the most interesting pivot the series had attempted in years. Stripping back the formula, placing the player in a historical version of Sinnoh, and making catching Pokemon feel genuinely dangerous was a bold call. The open areas were sparse and the presentation was rough, but there was a philosophy behind it that felt like the beginning of something. The world reacted accordingly, with fans calling it the freshest the series had felt in over a decade. Then Scarlet and Violet arrived. The ambition was visible and real. A fully open region, three parallel storylines, a genuinely affecting climax that caught many players off guard. But the execution was painful. Pop-in rendering that would draw trees fifty metres in front of you. Frame rates that dropped into the teens in busy areas. A world that looked unfinished in broad daylight. Scarlet and Violet sold approximately 27.2 million copies, making them the second best-selling Pokemon games of all time, which tells you everything about where the commercial incentive sits and nothing about whether that outcome was earned.

What Other Studios Have Proved Is Possible

Before building a dream spec, it helps to establish what the industry has already delivered that Pokemon hasn't approached.

The Dream Game — A Design Spec

So what does the game actually look like? Here are the four pillars that would define it.

Why It Has Not Happened Yet

The honest answer is that it does not need to. Scarlet and Violet sold 10 million copies in their first three days, the best launch of any Nintendo game at that point. The market has never punished Game Freak for underdelivering, so the structural incentive to overdeliver has simply never existed. There is also a genuine creative conservatism at the studio that is not without merit. Tajiri and Sugimori built something that worked across three decades, and the instinct to preserve that identity is understandable. Not every departure has been welcomed: Legends: Arceus was critically praised and commercially solid but also divisive among fans who wanted a more traditional structure. But the gap between what Pokemon is as a cultural force and what its games deliver as products is now wide enough that it is becoming part of the franchise's identity in the wrong way. The performance memes are not affectionate anymore. They are a genuine conversation about whether Game Freak is the right vehicle for the IP it holds.

What Legends: Z-A Actually Delivered

Pokemon Legends: Z-A launched on October 16, 2025, on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, set within Lumiose City where an urban redevelopment plan shapes the story. It landed a 79/100 average on OpenCritic with 65% of critics recommending it. TechRadar's reviewer gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it near perfection and praising its story focus as something not seen since the GameCube era titles, while noting that Lumiose City felt repetitive over time and flagging some bugs with the new battle systems. That is a meaningful step forward. A score in the high 70s to mid 80s with genuine critical praise for narrative ambition is not where the series was two years ago. Z-A is evidence that the appetite for a more serious Pokemon game exists and that Game Freak is capable of moving toward it. Whether it is the beginning of a permanent shift or a single good entry in a series that will revert to form with the next mainline release remains to be seen.

Final Thoughts

None of this is impossible. It is not even radical. It is applying to Pokemon the same investment and structural seriousness that other major franchises have received from studios with smaller audiences and less margin for error. The lore is there. The regional concept is one of the most flexible world-building frameworks in gaming. The creature design language, at its best, is genuinely singular. The battle system has sustained a competitive community for thirty years. The foundation is extraordinary. What it has never had is a studio operating at the scale the franchise deserves, with the time and headcount to match the ambition that is clearly there when the series is allowed to reach for it. Z-A suggests the appetite for that version of Pokemon exists inside Game Freak as well as outside it. Whether the commercial reality ever forces the structural changes needed to make it consistent is the question the next generation will answer. What would your dream Pokemon game look like? And after Z-A, do you think the series is finally moving in the right direction, or is one good entry not enough to call it a trend? Let us know in the comments.