Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation Launches Summer 2026 on PS5, Xbox, and PC with Xbox Game Pass Day One Release

Game Freak’s new action RPG, Beast of Reincarnation, will release in summer 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with immediate availability on Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Game Freak, best known for developing over 30 Pokémon games, has unveiled fresh details and visuals for its original action RPG, Beast of Reincarnation. The studio confirmed the release window for summer 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with the game set to be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. After an early development history under the working title Project Bloom and previous plans for publishing via Take-Two’s Private Division, Beast of Reincarnation will now launch under the banner of a new publisher, Fictions.

Story, Setting, and Core Gameplay Features

Beast of Reincarnation follows Emma, an “exiled protagonist” navigating a world consumed by parasitic plants known as the blight. The blight is responsible for the collapse of human civilisation, with most of the population lost. Emma, together with her wolf companion Koo, possesses a unique ability: she can hunt entities called Malefacts and seal their blight into her own body.

To overcome the central antagonist, the Beast of Reincarnation, Emma and Koo must defeat powerful enemies referred to as Nushi and absorb their powers. The gameplay interlinks their abilities, allowing players to combine strategic defence and offence. Specifically, if Emma successfully parries an enemy’s attack, it causes Koo’s power to build, enabling the use of “Blooming Arts,” described as powerful combat techniques.

Story and gameplay summary:

• Main character: Emma, an exile
• Companion: Koo, a wolf
• World affected by the blight, a parasitic plant infestation
• Emma’s ability: Seals blight from defeated Malefacts within herself
• Objective: Defeat Nushi and the Beast of Reincarnation by absorbing their powers
• Core mechanic: Successful parries charge Koo, unlocking Blooming Arts

Development Team and Philosophy

The game’s director and writer, Kota Furushima, previously contributed as a battle planner and sound manager on select Pokémon titles. Describing the inspiration behind Beast of Reincarnation, Furushima said:

“I began by quietly asking my own heart what kind of sensations I wanted the game to offer.” He continued, “The feeling that resonated with me most, the one that clicked, was a mix of ‘warmth, trust and loneliness’.” Furushima added, “For six years since the project’s inception, we have poured all our effort into scattering countless secrets and profound charm throughout this world.”

The project has its roots in Gear Project, an internal Game Freak initiative established a decade ago to encourage original ideas beyond the Pokémon franchise, particularly during less intensive Pokémon development cycles. General manager Masafumi Saito remarked: “It is very important to Game Freak to keep taking on the challenge of creating original games.”

Despite Game Freak’s global reputation for Pokémon, the studio has a history of original multi-platform titles, such as HarmoKnight, Tembo the Badass Elephant, and Giga Wrecker. The development team for Beast of Reincarnation is described as “relatively small” but is outsourcing to a wide number of partner studios to support production, according to recent updates from the studio.

Fast facts:

• Developer: Game Freak (founded 1989, renowned for Pokémon series)
• Director/Writer: Kota Furushima
• Publisher: Fictions
• Release: Summer 2026
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Day One on Xbox Game Pass
• Development Team: Relatively small, outsourcing widely
• Project Origin: Gear Project (internal Game Freak initiative)

The anticipation around Beast of Reincarnation is driven by Game Freak’s established pedigree and its rare foray into cross-platform original IP. The action RPG’s launch across all major consoles and Xbox Game Pass marks a notable shift from the studio’s typical Nintendo exclusivity. With six years of development and a philosophy rooted in emotional world-building and gameplay innovation, Beast of Reincarnation stands as one of Game Freak’s most ambitious non-Pokémon projects yet.