Pokemon Fans Can't Figure Out If Legends Z-A Is Set In The Past Or Future

thegamer.com:

Yesterday, Nintendo revealed Pokemon Legends: Z-A, taking us back to the Kalos region from X & Y. While Arceus was set in Sinnoh's past before it was even called Sinnoh, fans can't figure out when the sequel takes place.

"This is an urban REdevelopment plan," Bulbagarden tweeted, attaching photos of the holographic blueprints of the city. "Is Pokemon Legends Z-A set in the future? The futuristic Z and the naturalistic A makes us wonder if we should expect backwards time travel/regression themes?"

Nintendo also confirmed that Z-A will take place "entirely within Lumiose City" .

People cite the modern-day clothing we see in the sketches as proof of it taking place in the future, while others point to the redevelopment plan being reminiscent of Haussmann's renovation of Paris, the city Lumiose is based on, in the late 1800s and early 1900s as proof of it being in the past.

There's a lot of contention and points for both sides, so some have even taken up the belief that we'll bounce between the past and future, hence the singular city setting.

However, some, like MandJTV, argue that the futuristic look at the city we see in the trailer is "what Kalos already looks like in X and Y". They theorise that we'll instead venture to the past and be responsible for building Lumoise into its modern-day counterpart.

Others, like Centro Leaks, disagree, "The official Japanese account mentioned that the Lumoise we see on the trailer is different from the 'previous versions' (in XY). We don't know if the game is set in the present or in the future, but we know the trailer is not at the same point as in XY."

One fan took things a step further to prove the city in the trailer is different from the city in XY by overlaying the two maps on top of each other.

"It shows that both the north and south boulevards have been expanded upon where the wall inhabited and beyond," Patbacknitro replied. "So this just appears to be a further expansion of the existing city."

Pokemon Legends Z-A isn't