Who conceived Pokémon Pokopia as a game about player-created Pokémon habitats?

Shigeru Ohmori conceived Pokémon Pokopia as a game about player-created Pokémon habitats.

Ohmori developed the idea while considering new approaches for the Pokémon franchise. His earlier work as a map designer on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire helped inspire the thought that players would enjoy creating and cultivating habitats of their own.

He was also the director of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and served as Pokopia's concept and senior director. Omega Force's Takuto Edagawa served as chief director, so the two names represent different leadership roles and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Pokopia's emphasis on reshaping land, building homes, and attracting Pokémon follows directly from the habitat concept. The game turns the player's relationship with the Pokémon world into an act of construction and stewardship, making Ohmori's original design goal visible throughout its systems.