Junichi Masuda left Game Freak to join The Pokémon Company as Chief Creative Fellow. This marked a significant shift in his career, moving from a development-focused role to a more creative and strategic position within the larger Pokémon organization.

Junichi Masuda stated that Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! would likely be his final time serving as director for the main series Pokémon games.