The Pokémon Pokopia release date is finally here. After months of anticipation, players will soon be able to jump into the new Pokémon life-sim on Nintendo Switch 2. If you’re wondering exactly when Pokémon Pokopia unlocks in your region, here are the official release times, preload details, and what you need to know before launch.

Pokémon Pokopia Release Date Explained

According to The Pokémon Company, the Pokémon Pokopia release date is Thursday, March 5, 2026. However, because it’s a Nintendo-published title, it will likely get a global midnight launch on the Switch 2. Yes, that means some players will technically get access to the game early on the 4th, depending on their time zone.

Based on how the Nintendo eShop usually handles midnight releases, Pokémon Pokopia will go live at 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET. However, players looking to jump into the game as soon as possible will need to know what time this is when converted to their own region. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Below is a table that shows when Pokopia releases worldwide:

Pokémon Pokopia Release Times (Worldwide)

Region	Local Time	Date
North America (PT)	9:00 PM	March 4
North America (ET)	12:00 AM	March 5
Canada (ET)	12:00 AM	March 5
United Kingdom (GMT)	5:00 AM	March 5
Europe (CET)	6:00 AM	March 5
Japan (JST)	2:00 PM	March 5
Brazil (BRT)	2:00 AM	March 5
Australia (AEDT)*	4:00 PM	March 5
New Zealand (NZDT)	6:00 PM	March 5

Does Pokémon Pokopia Have Preload?

Yes, you can preload Pokémon Pokopia on your Nintendo Switch 2 right now. The Pokopia download size is roughly 10GB, so make sure you have the necessary space on your console before the 5th! 

To preload Pokopia, you just have to take the following steps:

• Step 1: Go to the Nintendo eShop here.
• Step 2: Click the pre-order button and purchase Pokémon Pokopia for $69
• Step 3: Your Pokopia will automatically download to the console your Switch 2 account is linked to.
• Step 4: Play Pokopia when the game unlocks on March 5 (or 4th depending on your time zone)

Interestingly, Pokémon Pokopia is already the highest-reviewed Pokémon game since 2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It’s also the first Pokémon game to net a 90 rating on Metacritic. Although that overall score could drop when more reviews come in. Regardless, it’s easily the best-rated Pokémon game in years, so the hype is off the charts!

What Is Pokémon Pokopia?

If you missed the games original announcement in 2025, you might be wondering what Pokémon Pokopia is. While it’s technically a spinoff title by Omega Force, it’s actually co-developed by Game Freak themselves. In fact, veteran senior Pokémon Director Shigeru Ohmori helped oversee the game.

Ohmori might sound familiar to you, as he was recently the Director of Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and Pokémon Legends Z-A. In Pokémon Pokopia, you play as a Ditto in a seemingly post-apocalyptic Kanto region. Players will have to rebuild the land to attract Pokémon back to the environment.

The cozy life-sim game is part Minecraft meets Animal Crossing. However, what makes the game unique is Ditto’s ability to learn new moves by copying other Pokémon. So in Pokopia, you learn how to water plants by unlocking Squirtle, for example. Or you can cut down trees after meeting Scyther. The goal is to attract as many Pokémon as possible to your little city, which you will build over time.