Microsoft presented a wonderful lineup of Xbox games at Summer Game Fest 2025. Insect survival game Grounded gets a sequel, Atlus announces Persona 4 Revival and the new steampunk action RPG, Clockwork Revolution. Yet one developer turned heads when Beast of Reincarnation made its debut. Pokémon developer Game Freak took the chance and partnered with Xbox to bring their souls-like RPG to life.

What is Beast of Reincarnation?

In the year 4026, most of humanity has accepted its inevitable extinction. The creature known as the Beast of Reincarnation walks and spreads death across Japan. Whatever living thing crosses its path, whether animal, plant, or machine, gets infected by its spores. The beast appears as a noble stag deer walking with dark fungi on its back.

In Beast of Reincarnation, players will follow the story of Emma the Sealer, who is destined to slay the Beast of Reincarnation. According to the game’s store page, she’s cursed by the creature’s blight. Instead of craving destruction, Emma is given the power of plant growth. Viewers witnessed her ability in her sleep as her braid grew vines and blossomed flowers. And with her canine companion, Koo, they seek the beast to ensure humanity’s survival.

Game Expectations

Game Freak partnering with their publisher, Fictions, is a wise move. Compared to their previous RPG titles, it’s clear their vision doesn’t feel restrictive for Xbox. Beast of Reincarnation presents itself as an adventure RPG. The combat so far is free-flowing swordplay combined with Emma’s blight. Blight will also be used while exploring the desolate lands of Japan. The Xbox showcase presentation shows Emma traversing a continuous vine bridge.

The Beast of Reincarnation trailer shows players will grow alongside the chosen hero as we see her go from child to adulthood. Parts of her story laid out the clues on various blighted creature behavior. In one scene, Emma encounters an infected swordsman. They lifted her chin with their blade as its blue floral maw stared. Enemies will detect her as a threat if she either attacks first or walks in their line of sight.

Game Freak’s Non-Pokémon History

Beast of Reincarnation is not the first time Game Freak branched out of Nintendo’s beloved IP, Pokémon. They were first brought on board for the NES competitive puzzle game Yoshi back in 1991. Sega hired the team three years later to develop an action platformer to rival Capcom’s Mega Man, Pulseman for the Sega Genesis, and Mega Drive. Game Freak dived into other game genres after the success of Pokémon Red, Blue & Green.

Here are the non-Pokémon titles the team made after 1996:

• Bushi Seiryuuden: Futari no Yuusha (1997): Game Freak partnered with T&E Soft for a hybrid samurai RPG. The game featured unique overworld exploration and battling monsters in platforming sections. Due to its release at the end of the SNES life cycle, the game was region-locked in Japan. Until March 2021, ROMHacking.net reported a full American English translation patch.

• Drill Dozer (2005): This quirky action platformer was released for the Game Boy Advance and featured the Rumble Pak. Game Freak utilized the handheld’s capabilities and provided a one-of-a-kind experience. Players control Jill, who was ambushed by the Skulkers and robbed of her mother’s Red Jewel. She takes the matter into her own hands by stealing a construction drill suit.

• HarmoKnight (2012): During the development of Pokémon X & Y, Game Freak experimented with rhythm games. This 3DS auto-scroller RPG was a Nintendo eShop exclusive. You play as a selection of music warriors fighting monsters through obstacle courses. While it succeeded as a rhythm RPG, players reported a difficulty curve that forced them to quit or develop hand injuries. The game remains console-locked after Nintendo shut down the 3DS and Wii U eShops on March 27, 2023.

• Tembo the Badass Elephant (2015): Sega recruits Game Freak two decades after Pulseman. This time, they decided to transform Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo into an elephant. You play as Tembo, the National Army’s secret line of defense, to rescue Shell City from the dastardly PHANTOM. This action platformer gives Sonic gameplay new life with Tembo’s chaotic combat style.

• Pocket Card Jockey (2016): Another 3DS eShop exclusive produced by Game Freak involves solitaire and horse racing. At launch, the game left players confused about how solitaire can improve their racing horse skills. It provided some with an in-game gambling addiction, while others were frustrated. The 2024 Nintendo Switch remaster, Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On, improved its game mechanic explanation.

• Giga Wrecker (2017): Following the foundation of Tembo the Badass Elephant, Game Freak offers a sci-fi apocalypse metroidvania. Players take the role of Reika Rekkeji, who died during Earth’s robot invasion. After being rescued with cybernetic enhancements, she can weaponize any tech debris.

• Little Town Hero (2019): This single Game Freak RPG is mostly forgotten, for it did not have a worldwide release. Nintendo officially stated on its Switch store page that it’s purchasable in Europe. However, its turned-based gameplay requires an understanding of attack phases. There is no experience grinding, and players are expected to develop strategies to win certain battle situations.

The Console Wars Continues

Back in Nintendo’s April 2025 Direct, From Software revealed Bloodborne’s spiritual seeker, The Duskbloods. The game is advertised to contain a multiplayer campaign in a Gothic sci-fi world. While the trailer excited fans, they soon learned the game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. Earlier in February, Microsoft shared their plan to end the console wars. By expanding their exclusives to their competitors, they offer an inclusive gaming experience. This would have opened more opportunities for gamers to afford titles without purchasing another console.

Due to Nintendo’s hesitance, The Duskbloods incentivize future players to purchase the Nintendo Switch 2. Yet, there is no sign of Game Freak bringing Beast of Reincarnation to the console. It was announced to be available on Microsoft’s upcoming handheld, the Xbox ROG Ally and Ally X. Like the Nintendo Switch 2, its mission is to provide high-end performance gaming on the go. This may affect its unit sales once it launches this holiday season. Sony has also confirmed on the PlayStation YouTube channel that Beast of Reincarnation will be playable on PS5. Maybe we will see Beast of Reincarnation one day on the Nintendo Switch 2, but not for now.