Pokémon Z Release Date on Hold; Live Action Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Commercial Debuts for 2016 Film

Jul 11, 2015 04:20 AM EDT

The Pokémon Z release date is certainly in limbo following a no-show at E3 2015. In the meantime, fans may be pleased to note that Zygarde may be appearing in the 2016 Pokémon film.

Alleged Zygarde Sighting During 'Hoopa & The Clash of Ages' Screening

On July 5, the upcoming Pokémon feature "Hoopa & The Clash of Ages" received a special screening in Japan. According to Serebii, various sources reported seeing Zygarde in the small trailer that was featured after the film had ended. If this information is correct, Zygarde may be present in the still yet-to-be-named 2016 Pokémon movie.

There is also unconfirmed speculation that the creature will be added to the upcoming Pokémon Z. Zygarde first appeared in the Pokémon X/Y videogame. As of yet, it has not been featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. "Pokémon: Hoopa & The Clash of Ages" will premiere in Japan on July 18.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Live Action Trailer Debuts in Japan

Last week, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon received a live-action trailer reminiscent of the first-generation Super Smash Bros teaser.

The recent Super Mystery Dungeon trailer is essentially a live-action version of the previous teaser that was featured months ago. Viewers caught a glimpse of Pikachu leading a group of Pokémon into a dark dungeon. This time though, the video showed a funny segment where Pikachu is lured into a trap by an apple. It is not certain whether this devious fruit will be a feature in the game.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon will be available on Nintendo 3DS upon release on September 17, 2015.


Why Pokémon Z Failed to Show Up at E3 2015

For now, it seems that the so-called Pokémon Z exists solely within the wishful thinking of diehard fans. The fabled successor to Pokémon Y was originally rumored to be unveiled at E3 2015. Aficionados were naturally disappointed when this did not happen.

During E3, iDigitalTimes asked Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, why a new core Pokémon game was not announced.

"There's no particular reason I'm aware of," Moffitt answered. "One year, for example, people got used to a March or Spring Pokémon time frame and then we moved it to a Fall time frame in October. So we did different things with the Pokémon franchise this year."

Nintendo is currently promoting its Yokai Watch series to western consumers for the very first time this year. The popular Japanese title follows gameplay similar to that of Pokémon, but players capture ghosts to do battle instead.