Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A just dropped, and while players are hyped to explore Lumiose City—modeled after real-world Paris—they've stumbled upon an unsettling detail: benches along the streets feature metal dividers. This design, quickly dubbed "anti-homeless architecture," has ignited a fierce debate among the global player base.
Sharp-eyed fans actually spotted these peculiar dividers in the game's trailer back in February 2025. Now that the game is officially out, the design remains, fueling widespread discussion.
One Redditor fumed, "Are we really kicking out the homeless even in games? This is ridiculous!" Another lamented, "Anti-homeless benches, neighborhoods turning into Pokémon hunting grounds... turns out the world isn't that different after all."
For the uninitiated, "hostile design" or "anti-homeless architecture" refers to public installations in real cities deliberately made uncomfortable to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or sleeping for extended periods. Think benches with armrests in the middle, metal spikes on sidewalks, or planters blocking storefronts. These designs have frequently been called out on social media in recent years as symbols of modern urban indifference towards vulnerable populations. Naturally, the benches in Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A quickly made their way to X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, sparking heated arguments.
Some players have jumped to Nintendo's defense, suggesting the design might simply be a faithful recreation of real Parisian streetscapes. "Anyone who's been to Paris knows this is a common sight," one user commented. However, others argue that games shouldn't blindly replicate real-world injustices. "The Pokémon world has always emphasized coexistence and friendship," one player noted, "so it's truly ironic to see discriminatory urban design here."
Meanwhile, some have taken a lighter approach, joking that the dividers are actually there to prevent Pokémon from hogging the spots. "It's an anti-Snorlax bench, right?" quipped one fan.
This isn't the first time a game has faced "anti-homeless design" backlash. Back in 2022, Overwatch 2 received criticism for similar bench designs in its New York-inspired maps, prompting the development team to make swift changes. And this year, the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong even featured a trap bench that harmed players upon saving, creating its own unique "bench discourse."