Pokemon X and Y were trailblazers for the long-running creature-collecting RPG franchise. They released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, and were the first entries to evolve from primarily 2D sprite-based experiences into 3D models and environments. Their Kalos region was based on France, continuing the tradition of creating Pokemon regions based worldwide locales established by Black and White's Unova, and this place was known for a fan-favorite mechanic: Mega Evolution.
This innovation came with a number of drawbacks, as Game Freak clearly needed more experience with the 3DS hardware and 3D design as a whole. A "third version" of each Generation's mainline games usually fix the issues of initial releases, and this seemed inevitable for what was destined to be "Pokemon Z." However, that game never came about, with the developer instead pushing out Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in 2014. With the direction the franchise has taken in the near-decade since, it's possible "Pokemon Z" may still come about - even if not in the form many might expect.
Problems with Pokemon X and Y
The Generation 6 Pokemon games were undoubtedly ambitious. On top of transitioning series' staples into 3D, Kalos introduced 69 monster (not counting forms like Mega Evolution), a brand-new Fairy typing to balance battle match-ups, and an underlying story with a more somber tone than most of its contemporaries. All the greatest hits were present, from eight unique Gym Leaders as part of a League challenge to the fashion-conscious evil Team Flare, but it was all set atop a region with a rich history exploring a war and the mass extinction which ended it.
Yet, many will surely remember these games for technical troubles. Lag was a problem, particularly during multi-battles - including the new horde battles. While Diamond and Pearl were criticized for slow pacing years prior, Pokemon X and Y's issues were clearly due to optimization given their choppy framerate and slow response times. Battles were also seemingly more unbalanced than ever thanks to quality-of-life innovations such as Pokemon Amie that gave happy teammates better odds of dodging or living a fatal hit; and because of overpowered monsters such as Mega Kangaskan.
Beyond that, the games' stories were rote and did not bring much to the table beyond gimmicks like Mega Evolution or the novel jump to 3D. Kalos was a beautiful region, and players could customize their characters for the first time (with limited options), but based on these games alone Lysandre and Diantha are among the least interesting villains and Champions in the series, respectively. There was also next-to no postgame content for those who did not want to farm shinies in Friend Safaris or take on the Battle Maison.
It's no wonder Game Freak decided to shake things up with Pokemon Sun and Moon after the release of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, replacing its Pokemon League structure with the Island Challenge to help Alola stand out narratively. However, it is a shame that Kalos never got a chance to redeem itself with a third version, especially seeing how Sun and Moon had to incorporate a larger role for X and Y's third "box" Legendary Zygarde instead.
Pokemon Z Could Still Happen
Pokemon X and Y are outliers for their lack of a third version in any form. Games like Pokemon Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum iterated upon the formulas of their base versions to offer improvements. Meanwhile, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 were direct sequls to their DS predecessors, and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were more like alternate reality takes on the same source material. The latest titles Sword and Shield also have not gotten a third version or sequel, but they did receive the series' first DLC expansions.
Yet, leaks suggest there were plans to develop more Kalos games, perhaps "Pokemon Z" version. Instead, Zygarde's unique 10 percent and 100 percent forms were introduced in Sun and Moon, asking players to collect Zygarde cells across Alola on behalf of Kalos Professor Sycamore's aides Dexio and Sina. That doesn't mean they won't appear down the line, and in fact it would be odd for Game Freak and The Pokemon Company to let this outlier stick.
There were rumors for some time that Pokemon Sword and Shield would get Kalos region DLC, and this isn't farfetched given the DLC added new areas called The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra. Kalos is based on France and Galar on the United Kingdom, so theoretically Game Freak could connect the two using real-world proximity. That may even still be a feasible route to give Kalos new content if other European countries such as Germany get turned into regions.
However, the most likely way fans will get to see Kalos again is through the inevitable Pokemon X and Y remakes. Every set of games has gotten this treatment through the upoming Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remaking the Sinnoh region. Going by this pattern, Pokemon Black and White remakes are next on the docket, and the wait for them may not be as long considering the Diamond and Pearl remakes were outsourced to developer ILCA. Unova was the last 2D region before X and Y, so Kalos would get its due afterward.
Yet Pokemon remakes have largely been faithful to the initial paired releases rather than third versions. Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire didn't include a lot of Emerald content (instead going with a postgame Delta Episode), and the same appears to be happening for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl with Platinum content. Thus, X and Y remakes aren't likely to be the "Pokemon Z" many would hope for.
Luckily for fans of Kalos, Pokemon has become interested in expanding upon its regions with new ideas. Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! remade Kanto with a slightly new narrative and Pokemon GO mechanics. Meanwhile, the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus tells a story set in Sinnoh ages prior, when the region was known as Hisui. No other games in the series would deserve a similar reimagining more than X and Y, which seemingly got the short-end of the stick on their first go. Hopefully this is how a "Pokemon Z" centered around Zygarde could still see the light of day.
Pokemon X and Y are available now on Nintendo 3DS.