It’s not every day we get a peek behind the curtain at a studio as legendary as Game Freak. But a recent massive data leak, dubbed the “Teraleak,” has pulled back that curtain in a big way, revealing some fascinating and frankly dramatic details about the leadership behind the Pokémon series. The biggest bombshell? Long-time director Junichi Masuda was apparently banned from directing mainline games for over a decade.
If you’ve been a fan for a while, you know Masuda’s name. He’s been a foundational figure since the beginning. The leak, however, paints a picture of a studio in turmoil, leading to a major shift in creative power. Let’s break down what we’ve learned.
The Era of “Absolute Dominance”
According to the leaked documents, the period leading up to 2013’s Pokémon X & Y was described internally as “the era of Masuda’s absolute dominance.” During this time, Masuda reportedly had the final say on everything-from game design and personnel decisions to public relations. No one could oppose him.
While this led to some of the most iconic games in the series, the documents suggest it also created problems. Power became too centralized. The focus allegedly shifted from making the games fun to making decisions based on their PR value. The organization began to “run out of control,” with claims of favoritism in staffing. Things came to a head during the development of Pokémon X & Y when Masuda reportedly had a major argument with Ken Sugimori, another key figure and the primary artist for the series. Following this clash, a decision was made: Masuda would no longer be allowed to direct mainline Pokémon games.
A New Director, Same Problems?
After Masuda stepped back, Shigeru Ohmori took the helm, directing every mainline title from Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire through Scarlet & Violet. However, the leaks suggest that Ohmori inherited the same powerful, centralized structure that Masuda had. A 2021 document reportedly raised concerns that Ohmori holding so much power could lead to the same issues all over again.
It seems those concerns were taken seriously. By 2024, other documents began referring to Ohmori as the “former” director of Division 2, the department responsible for mainline Pokémon games. This implies that another major leadership change has happened, leaving the director’s chair open for the first time in years.
What This Means for the Future of Pokémon
So, where does this leave the franchise? It’s important to remember that neither Masuda nor Ohmori is gone. Masuda moved to a new role at The Pokémon Company as Chief Creative Fellow in 2022, a position similar to what Shigeru Miyamoto holds at Nintendo. He now helps guide the creative vision for the entire Pokémon brand, including games, anime, and merchandise. In this role, he likely has more influence over the entire IP than ever before. Ohmori is also still involved, and leaks suggest he was the one who came up with the concept for the rumored 10th-generation titles.
With Ohmori no longer leading mainline development, the door is open for a new director to take charge for the next generation of games, potentially starting with the titles codenamed Pokémon Wind & Waves. After 26 years with effectively just two people at the helm, this could mark the beginning of a significant new creative era for the series. It signals a potential shift away from the centralized power structure and could bring fresh ideas to the forefront.
Conclusion
This leak has given us an unprecedented look into the inner workings of Game Freak. It’s a story of creative differences, power struggles, and the challenges of managing one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises. While the word “banned” sounds harsh, the reality seems more like a necessary corporate restructuring to prevent creative stagnation. With both Masuda and Ohmori in new roles and a new director likely on the horizon, the future of Pokémon might be heading in an exciting, new direction. We’ll be watching closely to see who steps up to lead the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Was Junichi Masuda actually fired?
No. The leaks suggest he was banned from directing mainline games after 2013 but remained at Game Freak. In 2022, he moved to a high-level creative role at The Pokémon Company. - What games did Masuda direct after the ban?
He co-directed the remakes Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Eevee! and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. These are not considered new mainline entries, so they didn’t violate the supposed rule. - Who is Shigeru Ohmori?
Ohmori is the developer who took over as director for the mainline Pokémon games after Masuda, starting with Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire and continuing through Scarlet & Violet. - Is Shigeru Ohmori also leaving Game Freak?
No. The leaks indicate he is no longer the director of the mainline game division as of 2024, but he is still with the company and reportedly conceived the idea for the 10th-generation games. - Who will direct the next Pokémon games?
We don’t know for sure. With Ohmori moving on from the director role, it is expected that a new director will be appointed for the next generation of Pokémon games. - What is the Pokémon “Teraleak”?
It’s a massive data leak that exposed internal documents, emails, and development details from Game Freak, revealing behind-the-scenes information about the Pokémon franchise.