How would a third version for Pokemon X and Y have looked like?

[Kathylikestoread]

I think that it would have been called Pokemon Z. Some differences from Pokemon X and Y:

• Serena and Calem would have maybe gotten redesigns or new outfits.
• There would be more Pokemon added to the Pokedex.
• Zygarde's lore might have gotten expanded on
• The story would be different
• Diantha's team would have been different
• There might have been new Team Flare admins (though that seems unlikely as there were already enough Team Flare admins)
• Team Flare's goals might have been different
• New Megas
• Gym Leaders and Elite Four's teams might have been different
• Serena, Calem, Shauna, Trevor and Tierno's teams might have been different
• New customization options

 

[skynerel]

It seems you already covered a lot of what they would include on a third version in your post. Usually the third versions had more postgame content and a few tweaks to the main campaign (from what I remember). Characters like gym leaders and elite four members would definitely get updated teams and Zygarde would’ve played a more central role in the climax. Maybe southern Kalos would’ve been available as well, which would add more NPC’s, a few towns and more pokemon.

 

[colours]

after going through most of ZA's story, this makes me rather glad that a third version didn't happen for XY. not to say that implies negativity about the game itself or the region or anything, but for the reasons already outlined in the OP: it's going to provide a probably slightly different experience, with a different "timeline", but more or less the same characters. in pokemon emerald and in pokemon platinum, their respective evil teams didn't deviate a lot (if at all) from their goals, so it stands to reason that any hypothetical third version for XY would be treated generally the same, what with maybe some added plot maybe to integrate zygarde more. i suppose that would be a net benefit compared to how zygarde was already treated in the base games.

the other changes wouldn't be noteworthy to me. diantha has a reputation for being one of the most unremarkable champion characters, and i have my doubts that her having a slightly different team would change anything. the xy elite four are.... ok i guess, but i barely remember them, so them having slightly different teams wouldn't do anything to my overall enjoyment of the hypothetical game.

the rest of what would be considered third game changes are just whatever. it wouldn't really flesh out the world of kalos the way it needed to be. if ZA wasn't a thing, you'd see me pining more for a sequel (though i'm unsure if you can really call ZA a sequel, or if it's its own thing) than anything else.

 

[Ransei]

I believe outside Zygarde getting involved in some way a lot of what would've been added to a third version of XY from a content standpoint ended up in ORAS instead