Pokémon Legends Z-A’s “Mega Dimension” DLC pushes price past €100 — Megas return, but at what cost?

The Return of Mega Evolutions Comes With a Bill

This caught my attention because the two things I love and fear most about modern Pokémon collided in one announcement: the hype of Mega Evolutions returning, and the creeping price of “the full experience.” Pokémon Legends Z-A revealed a paid expansion called “Mega Dimension” during the September 12 Nintendo Direct – before the base game even launches – and the fine print has players doing wallet math instead of theorycrafting teams.

Key Takeaways

• Mega Dimension adds a new narrative episode and fresh Megas: Mega-Raichu X and Y, plus Mega-Chesnaught (Blindépique), Mega-Delphox (Goupelin), and Mega-Greninja (Amphinobi).
• The DLC was announced pre-release, stirring the usual “was this sliced from the base game?” debate.
• Some Megas are gated behind ranked multiplayer seasons, which require a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
• Total cost tops €100 on Switch 2 if you want base game + DLC + the NSO time to unlock season-gated Megas.

Breaking Down the Announcement

On paper, this is fan-service done right. Megas were a highlight of Pokémon X/Y, and seeing them resurface in a Kalos-set Legends title is a strong swing. The newcomers are headline-worthy: Mega-Raichu gets a Charizard-style split with X and Y forms, and the Kalos starters finally receive the Mega treatment after years of requests. There’s also a fresh narrative episode in the Mega Dimension expansion, which is exactly the kind of postgame content Legends: Arceus never received.

But the rollout matters. Announcing a paid expansion pre-launch always prompts suspicion in this community, especially after Scarlet/Violet’s technical mess set expectations on edge. If you’re going to ask for more money early, players want clarity and confidence – not a mystery box.

The Price Reality: Over €100 for “Complete”

Here’s the math people are talking about. The base game on Switch is listed at €59.99, and on Switch 2 at €69.99. Mega Dimension is €29.99. The kicker: the three new starter Megas are tied to ranked multiplayer seasons — one per season across three seasons — and ranked requires an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

• Switch: €59.99 (base) + €29.99 (DLC) + €7.99 (3 months NSO) = €97.97
• Switch 2: €69.99 (base) + €29.99 (DLC) + €7.99 (3 months NSO) = €107.97

That’s assuming you only sub long enough to clear the seasons and never touch online again. Realistically, a lot of players grab the €19.99 annual plan and stay subbed. None of this pricing is unprecedented — Sword/Shield’s pass was in the same ballpark, Scarlet/Violet’s was slightly higher — but folding competitive-gated unlocks into the equation is new territory for Pokémon.

The Real Issue: Gating Megas Behind Ranked Seasons

Let’s call it what it is: pushing major fan-requested forms behind ranked seasons is a nudge toward subscriptions and FOMO. The announcement didn’t specify what rank or threshold you need to hit, only that the Megas will roll out one per season over three seasons. That raises a lot of questions:

• Will there be an offline path to earn these Megas later?
• Are the unlocks time-limited or permanently earnable once the season ends?
• How high do you need to climb in ranked — and is that realistic for casual players or kids?
• Do these forms meaningfully impact the single-player experience, or are they strictly for PvP?

If you’re designing for a broad audience, locking beloved forms behind competitive ladders is a risky move. Pokémon has always straddled competitive depth and casual collect-a-thons. This decision leans hard into the former at the expense of the latter.

Industry Context: Why It Hits Different With Pokémon

Plenty of publishers announce DLC ahead of release; it’s no longer unusual. But Pokémon remains under a harsher microscope for two reasons. One, Game Freak’s recent games have shipped with rough performance and visual cut corners — Scarlet/Violet’s launch is still fresh in minds. Two, Pokémon historically sold “third versions” or paired releases instead of constant à la carte add-ons. Since Sword/Shield, the franchise has embraced the expansion model, but goodwill has limits when tech polish is inconsistent and prices creep up to €69.99 on new hardware.

To be fair, the Mega Dimension price itself isn’t outrageous by modern standards if the narrative episode delivers meaningful hours and the new forms shake up builds. But the perception problem is real: announcing DLC before launch and tying headline content to ranked play makes it feel like you’re paying extra to unlock the nostalgia you were teased with in the trailer.

What Gamers Should Watch Before Buying

• Performance on Switch 2 and base Switch: if Z-A finally fixes the series’ tech woes, that changes the value conversation.
• Clear answers on unlock paths: confirm whether Mega-Chesnaught, Mega-Delphox, and Mega-Greninja can be earned offline later.
• DLC scope: how long is the narrative episode, and does it add new areas or just battles?
• Ranked requirements: what tier do you need to hit, and is it achievable without heavy meta knowledge?

I’m genuinely excited to see Megas come back — Mega-Raichu X/Y is a clever twist — but I want to see respectful design that doesn’t shove solo players into subscriptions. Give us a reasonable offline route after the season ends, be transparent about requirements, and make the DLC feel like a true expansion, not a paywall for the coolest toys.

TL;DR

Mega Dimension looks like crowd-pleasing content, but the way it’s packaged will cost you: base game + DLC + NSO to chase ranked-gated Megas pushes the total over €100 on Switch 2. If Game Freak clarifies fair, offline unlocks and delivers solid performance, this could land well. If not, expect the backlash to keep evolving.