Teraleak details Game Freak turmoil, with multiple head Pokémon game directors replaced
Documents part of the enormous Pokémon Teraleak divulge behind-the-scenes drama at the Game Freak studio. Arguments led to one head game director leaving before his replacement stepped down by 2024. Gamers are now wondering how these changes affected recent releases. It’s also unclear who is in charge of the new Pokémon games that have leaked in the past few days.
The material shared by Centro Leaks has been machine-translated from its original Japanese. As a result, some points may need later clarification. Nevertheless, it seems evident that many creators at Game Freak have questioned its leadership.
Junichi Masuda is a founder of the studio who worked on the earliest Pokémon games. According to the documents, Masuda had complete authority over game development. His reign also saw accusations of favoritism and misguided priorities. Apparently, decisions about in-game content became more about PR value than offering enjoyable gameplay.
The studio eventually decided to move in a different direction. However, another game director, Shigeru Ohmori, did not take over until after a heated argument with Masuda. After the exchange, the Teraleak discusses how Masuda was banned from coordinating the development of other titles. This transition took place during a critical phase for the 2013 Pokémon X and Y.
Sadly for Ohmori, his tenure as Division 2 boss at Game Freak was also controversial. The studio recognized that he held the same immense power as his predecessor. To avoid further discontent, the leaked material confirms that by 2024, Ohmori was no longer the main director of Pokémon games.
The future of Pokémon games
Both Masuda and Ohmori still play key roles in the Pokémon universe. Masuda now acts as the Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokémon Company. Meanwhile, Ohmori, who worked on entries like Scarlet and Violet, reportedly invented the concept of a 10th-gen title, known as Pokémon Wind and Waves.
Even if Ohmori is no longer the Division 2 chief, he may be piloting development of the new Pokémon game. The focus is currently on Pokémon Legends: Z-A for the Switch and Switch 2, but the island-themed adventure could arrive as soon as 2026.
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