Everything We Know About Game Freak's Project Bloom
Private Division, a publishing studio under the umbrella of Take-Two Interactive Software, recently announced that it will be releasing a brand new title that is currently being developed by Game Freak. This is great news for fans of both these studios, but it's particularly exciting for Game Freak fans, as it will be the studio's first new IP in quite a while.
Both of these companies have impressive catalogs of games under their belts. Game Freak, of course, is best known for being the developer behind the "Pokémon" franchise, while Private Division has worked with big developers to publish several major titles, including "Hades" and "The Outer Worlds."
This new collaboration has been codenamed "Project Bloom," and fans are eager to learn as much about it as they can. Game Freak has made a handful of other titles over the years, but this will be the studio's first time working alongside a Western publisher — and it looks to be a major departure from the sort of game that it is traditionally known for. It's still early days for the project, so a lot of information is being kept under lock and key, but here's everything we know about it so far.
Is there a release date for Project Bloom?
The first thing most fans will want to know is when they will actually be able to play this mysterious "Project Bloom." Well, it shouldn't be all that surprising to learn that a game which doesn't even have a title yet also doesn't have a proper release date. That said, Private Division did share on its website that the studios do have a projected launch window. "'Project Bloom'" is in early development and does not yet have an announced release date," the post states. "It is expected to launch during Take-Two's Fiscal Year 2026. Private Division and Game Freak look forward to sharing more details about this game in the future."
That might seem like a long way off, but to be fair, this is a game that's still in early development. It's actually a bit more encouraging when you take into account that Take-Two's fiscal year ends in March, meaning that gamers will be seeing the game's launch in the first few months of 2026 — assuming it releases on schedule.
What kind of game will Project Bloom be?
There aren't a lot of details available about "Project Bloom" just yet, but one thing that Private Division has stated for certain is that it's going to be an action-adventure title. That alone is a pretty big change from the turn-based monster-collecting RPGs that Game Freak is known for, but it makes sense that Game Freak would want to go this route. Many of the best games released in 2023 have been action-adventure titles, so it feels like the best possible time to get in on the fun.
Private Division also shared a single piece of concept art from the game. It showcases a lone swordsman wearing what appear to be traditional Japanese robes and a Sandogasa. The picture is zoomed out pretty far, but it's hard to tell if this indicates the point of view that will be available in the game, as concept art often shows perspectives that aren't actually available in the final product. In the image, the swordsman is standing in a stream in the middle of a densely wooded forest, surrounded by what appear to be particles of pollen.
Given the game's working title, this mysterious pollen-like substance may end up being pivotal to "Project Bloom's" story and mechanics. More information will no doubt become available as the game gets closer to release.