[This Week's Motivation] Latest releases "Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A" and "STARBITES" hit stores October 13–19, 2025

Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/897/G089789/20251012003/

Editorial Department: YamaChan | 2025/10/12 23:00 (UTC)

Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 008 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025

Monday has arrived again. For gamers, there’s nothing more exciting than a week packed with new releases—but how many people actually keep track of exactly what’s coming out this week? To help those who might exclaim, “Wait, that was released this week!?”, the weekly series “This Week’s Motivation” takes a look back at the highly anticipated titles launching this week.

Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A

Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 003 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025

Release Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Store: My Nintendo Store
Price: 8,100 yen Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 001 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 002 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025

Set in “Miarashi City,” a metropolis undergoing urban redevelopment with the goal of creating a society where humans and Pokémon coexist, this is the latest installment in the series. Players take on the role of a Pokémon Trainer visiting Miarashi City, capturing wild Pokémon during the day at scattered “Wild Zones” across town, then challenging themselves in the nighttime battle royale “ZA Royale” to climb the ranks. This marks the first time the franchise features real-time battles, offering fast-paced, action-oriented Pokémon combat where timing and move range are crucial.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Play Report

[Play Report] “Real-Time Combat” in Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A Is Chaotic—but Hilariously Fun! A Whole New Challenge Offering Completely Different Pokémon Battles](/games/897/G089789/20250919051/)

Play Report: “Real-Time Combat” in Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A Is Chaotic—but Hilariously Fun! A Whole New Challenge Offering Completely Different Pokémon Battles

Pokémon will release “Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A” on October 16, 2025. This title is set in Miarashi City, a city located in the Kalos region, and marks the first Pokémon game to feature real-time battles. A media preview event was held ahead of launch—here’s our report on what we experienced.

[October 8, 2025, 12:00]

STARBITES

Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 006 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025

Release Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Store: PS Store / My Nintendo Store
Price: 6,380 yen Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 007 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No. 004 / Latest installment of the “This Week’s Motivation” series, featuring the release of Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A and STARBITES, October 13–19, 2025

An RPG set on “Viter,” a planet devastated by an interstellar war and now covered in desert. Players take on the role of a young debris collector, embarking on an adventure with a group of colorful companions to uncover hidden secrets and unravel the tragic story buried beneath the surface. The game stands out for its solid script and compelling presentation, enhanced further by passionate voice acting that deepens immersion. As players strengthen their robotic partner, they’ll experience a grand narrative unfolding across vast cosmic landscapes.

PS5 PC Xbox Series X|S Nintendo Switch Play Report

[Play Report] RPG “STARBITES,” where you journey across a desert atop a robot—try the demo released today. Pay attention to its JRPG-inspired systems, packed with passion](/games/857/G085714/20250915002/)

Play Report: RPG “STARBITES,” where you journey across a desert atop a robot—try the demo released today. Pay attention to its JRPG-inspired systems, packed with passion

The demo version of “STARBITES,” an RPG developed by IKINAGAMES, has launched today (September 19, 2025) for PS5 and Nintendo Switch. At 4Gamer, we were among the first to get our hands on it—here’s our initial impression from playing through the early stages. Let’s take a detailed look at what makes this game so captivating: traveling across a ruined world in a robot.

[September 19, 2025, 12:00]