What working title did Game Freak initially use for the project that became Pokémon?

Game Freak initially called the project that became Pokémon “Capsule Monsters.”

The working title reflected the idea that players would carry miniature creatures in capsules and release them during adventures. Satoshi Tajiri’s concept combined creature collecting with the Game Boy’s link-cable communication, allowing players to trade their collected monsters.

The title was later shortened informally to “Capumon” during development. The team eventually changed it because “Capsule Monsters” could not be trademarked. The project became “Pocket Monsters,” which was shortened internationally to Pokémon and stylized with an accented e.

The capsule concept remained visible in the finished games through Poké Balls, the devices used to catch and store Pokémon. The name change is sometimes confused with the origin of the word Pokémon itself. “Capsule Monsters” was the project’s early working title; it was not the final franchise name and was not an English expansion of Pokémon.