Who conceived the Pokémon Pokopia project?

Shigeru Ohmori conceived the Pokémon Pokopia project.

Ohmori was the director of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and developed the initial idea for a Pokémon spin-off in which players could cultivate their own habitats. His concept grew from an interest in map design and in giving players more freedom to shape spaces for Pokémon.

Game Freak did not have as much experience with the sandbox genre, so the project brought in Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force. Ohmori served as the concept and senior director, while Omega Force director Takuto Edagawa served as chief director. These are different roles, which is why Edagawa is not the answer to the question about who conceived the project.

The origin story explains why Pokopia differs from a standard main-series Pokémon game. Its central loop is environmental restoration, construction, and friendship. Although the game was announced in 2025, the underlying concept began earlier, during development of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.