Pokemon Sleep Starts Transition to Pokemon Works as Main Developer

The development of Pokémon Sleep is undergoing a significant transition as Select Button, the current developer, hands over the reins to Pokémon Works, a newly established subsidiary of The Pokémon Company. This change, announced through the game's Japanese app, marks a pivotal moment for the future of Pokémon Sleep.

From SELECT BUTTON to Pokémon Works

In March of this year, The Pokémon Company unveiled Pokémon Works, igniting curiosity about its upcoming endeavors. Now, eight months later, it's confirmed that Pokémon Works will assume control over the development and future updates of Pokémon Sleep, taking over from mobile game developer SELECT BUTTON.

"Until now, the development and operation of Pokémon Sleep have been managed by two entities: SELECT BUTTON Co. Ltd. and The Pokémon Company, Ltd.," the developers shared in an app notification, as translated by machine. "However, we will gradually transition the development and operation of Pokémon Sleep from SELECT BUTTON to Pokémon Works."

This announcement was made via a general notice on the Japanese version of the Pokémon Sleep app. It's still uncertain how this shift might affect the global version of the game, as the news isn't currently displayed in the app's News section.

Little is known about Pokémon Works and their ongoing projects. However, Representative Director Takuya Iwasaki's greeting on their website reveals that the company is "a development team born from two companies, The Pokémon Company and Iruka Co., Ltd."

Pokémon Works is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, sharing space with ILCA, the studio behind the 2021 Pokémon remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and a co-developer of the Pokémon HOME service. Iwasaki noted in his greeting that Pokémon Works also played a role in developing Pokémon HOME.

Despite their limited past involvement with Pokémon, the company aims to "create an experience that makes Pokémon more real... so that everyone can enjoy meeting and adventuring with Pokémon." The specifics of how they will bring this vision to Pokémon Sleep are yet to be revealed.