Pokemon Developer's Next Game is Going to Launch Day One on Xbox Game Pass

Beast of Reincarnation, the ambitious new action-RPG from Pokemon studio Game Freak, is going to launch as a day one game on Xbox Game Pass when it releases this summer. While Game Freak is primarily known for Pokemon and almost exclusively makes games for Nintendo platforms, the studio has been known to branch out on occasion. Still, it’s likely a big surprise for many that the studio’s next game is releasing as a day one Xbox Game Pass game.

Beast of Reincarnation is a dazzling departure from Pokemon, set to deliver a visually-stunning action-RPG experience when it launches later this year. The game was recently showcased as part of the latest Xbox Developer Direct event, where Game Freak revealed more details about its story, characters, and gameplay. As revealed by Game Freak, Beast of Reincarnation stars protagonist Emma, who has the power to manipulate plants for combat and platforming purposes, and Koo, her “malefact” dog as they travel to fight the Beast of Reincarnation and rid the world of its apocalyptic blight.

Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation Breaks a 10-Year Tradition

When Game Freak revealed the trailer for its newest game during the Xbox Games Showcase, it caught many by surprise for a myriad of reasons.

Beast of Reincarnation is Coming to Game Pass on Day 1

While some of Game Freak’s latest games, particularly Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, have been criticized for their underwhelming graphics and performance, Beast of Reincarnation shows the studio is capable of delivering something that not only meets modern standards, but exceeds them in many cases. Xbox Game Pass subscribers impressed by Beast of Reincarnation will be happy to know that they can play the game in its entirety at no additional cost when it launches this summer. A specific release date for Beast of Reincarnation was not announced at the Xbox Developer Direct, but we know that the game will also be available for PC and PS5. Keep in mind that, like with most day one games, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription will be required.

Beast of Reincarnation‘s combat was a big focus of the Xbox Developer Direct showcase. It’s a unique blend of real-time action as players utilize Emma’s sword and her unique plant abilities to fight enemies while they trigger Koo’s special abilities to support her. Game Freak compared Koo’s combat to a turn-based RPG, where time slows down significantly and players choose from a menu to determine exactly what move he will do.

beast of reincarnation game pass day one

The Beast of Reincarnation gameplay shown at the Xbox Developer Direct looked somewhat similar to Soulslike games, with parrying and dodging out of the way of incoming attacks, but it’s not a Soulslike game. That being said, that level of challenge will be available to those that choose the Hard Mode difficulty setting. A Normal Mode will also be available along with a Story Mode. By offering three different difficulty options, Beast of Reincarnation gives players the chance to play exactly how they want.

Beast of Reincarnation Wasn’t the Only Day One Game Pass Game at the Developer Direct

Beast of Reincarnation was one of four games shown at the Xbox Developer Direct that are coming to Xbox Game Pass on the day of their release. The only one with a confirmed release date was Forza Horizon 6, which will launch on May 19 for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Forza Horizon 6 finally takes the series to Japan and looks like it will deliver the same kind of racing game excitement that fans have come to expect.

In the meantime, Double Fine’s new game, Kiln, a multiplayer party game, will be out this spring, and the long-awaited Fable reboot is dropping this Autumn. With all these games on the way and more, 2026 is shaping up to be an absolutely massive year for Xbox Game Pass, to say the least.