Shigeru Ohmori conceived the original Pokémon Pokopia concept during the development of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Ohmori had a long history with Pokémon map design. His early work on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire led him to consider how appealing it could be for players to create and arrange their own Pokémon habitats rather than only exploring environments designed by developers.
That idea became the foundation for Pokopia’s slow-life sandbox format. The finished game lets players collect materials, build structures, restore habitats, and attract Pokémon by meeting their environmental needs. Ohmori served as the concept and senior director, while Omega Force’s Takuto Edagawa served as chief director.
The origin is sometimes attributed to Pokémon’s original creator, Satoshi Tajiri, or to longtime producer Junichi Masuda. They are important figures in Pokémon history, but the specific Pokopia concept is credited to Ohmori. The game was later announced during a Nintendo Direct in September 2025.