With the announcement of variant Pokémon forms for the new Pokemon Pokopia, franchise fans are surely already catching a whiff. In the recent deep-dive trailer, the new life simulation game-type reveals “Peakychu,” a new take on the series mascot, and “Mosslax” and “Smearguru,” further confirming that new cosmetic and perhaps functional designs are still being given preference in this long-running monster-collecting franchise. The game is being described as a mesh of island-building and traditional Pokémon partnering, with a release date of March 5, 2026, thus making it a significant early title for the recently announced Nintendo Switch 2 console.
These newly revealed variants are among the more wildly designed since the beginnings of the franchise. Peakychu has been defined as a pale, droopy-eared version of Pikachu, after many costumed variations but rarely a redesign in form. As for Snorlax, it becomes Mosslax here, appearing nature-connected with the grassy skin and dainty little flower growing out from the top of his head. Most spectacularly, it marks the very first alternative design for Smeargle, which is graced by the multi-colored paint-splattered variation of Smearguru.
Koei Tecmo seems to have made a good mix of genres in developing Pokemon Pokopia, marrying the resource-gathering and crafting from Minecraft with low-key island development from Animal Crossing, all viewed through the Pokémon Universe lens. Core gameplay has the player character, Ditto, uniting with Pokémon to create a lively island community. Special mention was made in the trailer about Ditto’s transformational abilities, showing how it could transform into Dragonite to fly, or into Lapras to surf-a clear showcase of mechanics-focused animal collaboration.
The trailer confirmed the appeal of the new designs, but the developer has not clarified exactly what role they will play in Pokopia. It is speculated that these special forms might give Ditto an ability to build or help in some way unique to player characters, like the other starter Pokémon shown to assist in watering crops or growing grass. Alternatively, they could serve as targeted quest givers, assigning particular tasks necessary for island advancement. Whatever the case may be, these three forms represent an expanding roster of creatures for a spin-off title and speak volumes about how ambitious the Switch 2 exclusive looks to be for an early 2026 release.
