According to an recent interview with Junichi Masuda, it was discovered that the founder of Game Freak and director/assistant director of Pokémon titles from Silver & Gold to the latest Sun & Moon might be stepping down following the launch of the upcoming Let’s Go duo titles featuring Pikachu and Eevee.

Pokemon.com asked Masuda about the approaching Switch title and how Pokémon Go made an impression on the game with it being integrated to transfer players Pokémon. On top of other questions like the game’s direction and reflecting on older games Masuda worked on that influenced Lets’ Go. And with the creation of the Poké Ball Plus, he was asked how it is working with new technology as directing the upcoming titles.

“It was also interesting to work with Nintendo Switch. There’s a lot of technology packed into the hardware that we were all trying to discover at GAME FREAK,” Masuda said. “But at the same time, it’s important to have the younger generation at Game Freak take over the development of Pokémon as a series. I do believe this will probably be, in terms of the main Pokémon RPGs, the last time that I work as the director.”

Though it’s clear that Masuda won’t be directing any future Pokémon games, this doesn’t confirm that he will be finished with the franchise as an whole just yet. As we are soon to reach the Switch titles launch date, we won’t hear what Masuda has planned for himself ahead in time for a while.

As the forthcoming of Pokémon titles after Let’s Go, Game Freak has yet to announce what is next on the agenda. With Town receiving a reveal this June, the studio will be occupied until the new IP gives them more breathing room.

Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee is set to release for Nintendo Switch on November 16, 2018.

Source: Pokémon