New Pokémon game codenamed Synapse emerges from Game Freak data leak

Apparently Pokemon developer Game Freak has suffered a major data breach, with news today that a lot of information was compromised, including information about a new Pokemone game being developed at Game Freak and ILCA.

Confirmation of the leak comes from Nintendeal, who mentions the source code for Pokemon HG (HeartGold), SS (SoulSilver) and BW2 (Black and White 2). While there is likely to be a lot of information to come over the next few days, there is one important piece of information that has been making the rounds online and it appears to be confirmation of a new Pokemone game codenamed “Synapse.” This new game in the series is said to be developed by Game Freak and ILCA and will be “combat oriented”. As proof, check out a screenshot of the files supposedly associated with the game:

Who is ILCA?

While ILCA may not be a household name like Game Freak, the studio has worked on the franchise in the past with Pokemon Home, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The studio’s latest game is the action RPG Sand Land for Bandai Namco Entertainment. Keep in mind that this is not yet confirmed and should therefore be treated with caution. There is a possibility that this project has been renamed or even scrapped altogether.

While the most recent mainline Pokemon game that Nintendo released in 2022 was Scarlet and Violet, we know that there is another game in the works titled Pokemon Legends: ZA, set to release for the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2025.

We’ll keep an eye on whether more information about Synapse becomes available online. If you’re still trying to catch them all in Pokémon Scarlet and Purple, you can check out our extensive list of guides to help you in your search.