Game Freak’s upcoming title Beast of Reincarnation takes players to a ruined Japan in the year 4026, a notable shift from the studio’s well-known work on Pokémon. In a recent Famitsu interview, game director Kota Furushima shared his reasoning behind choosing Japan as the game’s backdrop.

According to Furushima, Japan’s diverse and challenging landscape was key to creating the difficult journey he envisioned for protagonist Emma and her dog companion Koo. “The choice of setting stems from wanting to make Emma and Koo’s journey a harsh one,” Furushima explained. “They don’t just travel along orderly roads, but to places that are messy, be they narrow, wide, or surrounded by mountains with elevation changes. When I thought of a place with terrain encompassing such varied features, I thought to myself, ‘Isn’t that Japan?'”

The game’s journey will take players from rural areas to the capital, mirroring the real-world mountainous path from the Kanto region to Kyoto. While Beast of Reincarnation follows a mostly linear path, players will encounter several large zones that offer plenty of space to explore. Players can navigate these areas through standard movement like walking and climbing, or by using Emma’s plant-based abilities. The game will also feature various elements that capture a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.

The year 4026 setting adds another layer of difficulty to the protagonists’ travels. Beyond dealing with unpredictable terrain, Emma and Koo must face off against Golems—robots designed to contain human souls. Only by conquering these obstacles can the pair hope to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation. Beast of Reincarnation is scheduled to launch in Summer 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.