While developer Game Freak is known for working on experimental projects between its more typical Pokémon releases, its upcoming title, Beast of Reincarnation, is likely the most unique project the studio has worked on. In an interview with DenFamiNicoGamer (via GamesRadar), director Kota Furushima acknowledges how different Beast of Reincarnation is for the team, especially with its more photorealistic visual style.
“I think the biggest thing for us is that it’s a new challenge for Game Freak,” he explained. “When you first look at the visuals, I think it’s the sort of game where it’s difficult to tell the country it’s made in. So I think a major point was that it’s ‘made by Game Freak.'”
Comparing Beast of Reincarnation to the studio’s other works, like Pocket Card Jockey, Drill Dozer, and Little Town Hero, Furushima admitted that the upcoming title “doesn’t really fit our vibe, does it?”
“‘This isn’t a photorealistic graphics kind of studio.’ That being said, we’re not particular about specific styles. In terms of the concept, I think the major themes are not dissimilar to what Game Freak has worked on before. When I was building the prototype, I began to realize that photorealism would be the best fit for what I’m trying to express here.”
Beast of Reincarnation was unveiled back in June 2025, and is slated for release on August 4th across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The title is set in the year 4026, with humanity being on the verge of complete collapse due to strange beasts showing up and corrupting the land, causing untamed and unnatural wildlife to spring out. Players take on the role of Emma – a young woman cursed with similar powers as the strange creatures, and as a result, is referred to as the Blighted One by other humans.
Furushima had previously spoken about the game’s story, world, and characters, and how they are all tied together thanks to thematic links. “The world of Beast of Reincarnation is being consumed by a force called the Blight,” he explained. “This Blight parasitizes all living things – plants and animals alike – and transforms them into beings known as the Malefact – the Corrupted.”
“The source of this Blight is a being known as the ‘Beast of Reincarnation’. Emma, the protagonist, and her canine companion, Koo, who is also a Malefact himself, journey together to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation.”
On the gameplay side of things, details were revealed earlier this month with a trailer showcasing just how important the game’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice-inspired parry system will be for its various combat encounters. Along with Emma’s own abilities, players can also make use of wolf companion Koo to time larger combos to take down enemies more quickly.
Beast of Reincarnation is slated to feature approximately 10 “stages” that span around 30 hours of playtime. However, Furushima hasn’t confirmed whether this hour count includes side content or if it just focuses on the main story.
For more details about Beast of Reincarnation, check out our thoughts about why it could be Game Freak’s biggest breakout so far.
