Shigeru Ohmori conceived the original Pokémon Pokopia concept while working on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Ohmori began thinking about a spin-off during development of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. He drew on his earliest work as a map designer on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and considered how appealing it could be for players to create their own Pokémon habitats.
That idea became the foundation for Pokopia’s slow-paced approach. Instead of centering the experience on gym battles and league progression, the game asks players to shape environments, befriend Pokémon, and develop places where different species can live.
Ohmori also served as the game’s concept and senior director. He was not the sole director: Omega Force’s Takuto Edagawa was chief director, and other developers handled art, production, writing, and programming. This division of roles is why Ohmori is credited with conceiving the concept rather than being described as the only person responsible for the finished game.