Pokémon Winds and Waves

Lore & Background

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves were announced during a Pokémon Presents presentation on 27 February 2026, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The games are the first installments of the tenth generation and are developed by Game Freak, published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, and are being made for the Nintendo Switch 2. Their release is planned for 2027.

The setting of Winds and Waves is a tropical archipelago region resembling Southeast Asia, primarily Indonesia, Malaysia, and parts of the Philippines. The region features a large number of islands with accessible underwater areas. The announcement revealed the game's first partner Pokémon: the Grass-type Browt, the Fire-type Pombon, and the Water-type Gecqua. Additionally, a leak claims that the game will introduce over 300 new Pokémon.

In 2024, a major data leak from Game Freak's servers had resulted in information about the titles in development, including Winds and Waves, being revealed to the public. The official reveal occurred on 27 February 2026.

Reader's Guide

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves mark the beginning of the tenth generation of the Pokémon video game series, announced on the franchise's 30th anniversary. Their significance lies in being the first mainline Pokémon games developed for the Nintendo Switch 2, signaling a new hardware generation for the series. The tropical archipelago setting, inspired by Southeast Asia, represents a departure from previous regions and introduces accessible underwater areas, a new gameplay element. The leak of over 300 new Pokémon, if accurate, would make this generation one of the largest in terms of new species. The games' announcement followed a major data leak in 2024 that had already revealed their existence, adding a layer of pre-release controversy. As the tenth generation, Winds and Waves continue the legacy of the Pokémon franchise while adapting to new hardware and exploring new cultural and environmental themes.

Did You Know?

• Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves were announced on 27 February 2026, the franchise's 30th anniversary.
• The games are the first installments of the tenth generation of the Pokémon video game series.
• A leak claims that the games will introduce over 300 new Pokémon.
• The setting is a tropical archipelago resembling Southeast Asia, primarily Indonesia, Malaysia, and parts of the Philippines.