Game Freak has published an interview with director Shigeru Ohmori featuring early prototype footage of Pokémon Pokopia. The video offers a rare look at the game’s origins, showing how its core ideas emerged shortly after work on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet finished, including Ditto as the player character and a system in which planting grass attracts different Pokémon.

Ohmori said the project began with a team of three—himself and two programmers—before growing to five. The prototype already included the grass-planting mechanic, while the developers also tested Ditto’s scale, transformations and arm movements; Ohmori additionally highlighted retaining elements of random encounters. Pokopia’s first downloadable expansion, Bubbly Basin, is now available and received an 8/10 review from Nintendo Life.