Who conceived Pokémon Pokopia as a Pokémon spin-off during development of another game?

Shigeru Ohmori conceived Pokémon Pokopia as a Pokémon spin-off during development of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Ohmori was thinking about new directions for the franchise and drew on his earlier experience as a map designer on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. He considered how appealing it could be for players to create their own Pokémon habitats rather than simply pass through fixed environments.

That idea became the foundation for Pokopia’s construction-centered design. The game asks players to shape terrain, build homes, and restore habitats, making the world itself a major part of progression. Ohmori served as the concept and senior director, while Omega Force’s Takuto Edagawa served as chief director.

The two names are easy to confuse because both held important creative roles. Ohmori originated the concept, whereas Edagawa led the project’s chief direction at Omega Force. Neither should be confused with the game’s producer, Kanako Murata.