Next year's Pokémon theme park isn't the only early-2026 Poké-treat. Pokémon Pokopia for the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming out next spring, and the game's newly released extended trailer reveals a shocker: a new Pikachu variant. Meet Peakychu, the mascot's first new variant since Gen II's Pichu back in 1999.
Peakychu has slightly larger eyes than Pikachu, with droopy ears and a whitish coat of fur. Its name comes from 'peaky', naturally, meaning pale from illness or fatigue. (Its Japanese name is Usuchu, with usu meaning pale or light-coloured.)
Sickly or not, dare we say this variant looks a bit… ghostly? It's currently unconfirmed if Peakychu is a Ghost-type, but it's fun to speculate.
The pasty pocket pal isn't the only new variant in town. The trailer also reveals Mosslax, a kind of Snorlax covered in moss with a flower on its head, plus Smearguru, a form of Smeargle with a multi-coloured tail and colourful splotches on its body.
As for the game itself, Pokémon Pokopia is a spin-off game in the vein of Animal Crossing or Minecraft, in which you play as a Ditto in human form in the middle of a desolate land. With the guidance of Professor Tangrowth, you restore the area's various habitats to attract and befriend Pokémon.
View the extended trailer below, but if you're as impatient as we are, skip ahead to 9:30 to see the pallid Peakychu and other variants.
It's unknown for now whether Peakychu, Mosslax and Smearguru will receive their own entries in the Pokédex, or what other surprises may be waiting, but the game's release isn't that far off. Pokémon Pokopia is coming out March 5 2026 and is now available for pre-order on the official Nintendo website. Peakychu, we choose you!
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