Pokémon XD was born barely a year after Colosseum, at the same studio, Genius Sonority. A look back at its development and release.
A sequel designed for a wider audience
In March 2005, Nintendo of America presented XD as a new GameCube game whose progression was closer to the Game Boy Advance games Ruby and Sapphire. Japanese magazines then revealed 3D graphics close to Colosseum, the return of Shadow Pokémon and Snagging, a hero accompanied by an Eevee and a Shadow Lugia at the heart of the story. The Colosseum team returned: Manabu Yamana as director, Kazunori Orio on the scenario, Tsukasa Tawada on the music.
Release
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 4, 2005 | Release in Japan |
| October 3, 2005 | Release in North America |
| November 18, 2005 | Release in Europe and France |
| March 18, 2026 | Re-release on Nintendo Switch 2, in Nintendo Classics |
Two demos were offered to promote the game, including an in-store one that let you snag three Shadow Pokémon. XD also features two fourth-generation Pokémon before their official reveal: Munchlax and Bonsly.
Reception
Reviews, more mixed than for Colosseum, hover around 64 out of 100. Many regretted the reuse of Colosseum’s locations and graphics and Poké Spots judged too small, while praising the visual effects of the moves and the care put into the battles.
Legacy
XD is the last Pokémon role-playing game on a home console for many years. Its 3D battle system lives on in Pokémon Battle Revolution, on Wii, and Shadow Pokémon return in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its re-release on Switch 2, in 2026, let a new generation discover Orre.
