More classic Pokémon games are reportedly coming to Nintendo Switch this year, following the February release of FireRed and LeafGreen ports. According to insider Shpeshal Nick, who recently accurately leaked a Zelda-themed Switch 2 console, Switch ports of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are 'planned for late September/October'.
Ports continue after FireRed and LeafGreen success
In February, Nintendo released direct ports of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary. Priced at £16.99 each, they sold more than four million copies within six weeks.
Dataminers have discovered references to Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald in the source code for FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch, implying some sort of future compatibility between them.
Why Ruby and Sapphire, not Gold and Silver
If you're wondering why not Pokémon Gold and Silver – which are Generation II of Pokémon, rather than Ruby and Sapphire which are Generation III – it's likely because the ports so far are all Game Boy Advance titles, so they're easier for Nintendo to emulate.
Nintendo shadow-dropped FireRed and LeafGreen in February, so it's possible that another surprise release could happen again – possibly in the traditional, but yet confirmed, September Direct. At the moment, the only big Switch 2 games confirmed for the autumn are Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.
Future possibilities and mainline games
If these ports do happen, Nintendo's next step may be to finally release Nintendo DS and 3DS games on Switch. There have been rumours for some time, but Nintendo only released a small number of DS games for the Wii U Virtual Console and none have ever been made available for the Switch 1 or 2. The two handhelds are not easy to emulate, given the twin screen and touchscreen controls, but so many games are now trapped on the systems – including Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver – that Nintendo really needs to come up with a solution, either involving the Switch 2 as it is or some kind of specialised hardware.
Beyond old ports, Nintendo is set to launch the next mainline Pokémon games, Pokémon Winds and Waves, at some point in 2027. According to a rumour circulated via CentroLeaks, these games might mark a change of director too. It's claimed Shigeru Ohmori, who has directed every mainline Pokémon game since Pokémon Sun and Moon, will be replaced by Hiroyuki Tani and Katushiko Ichiraku. Tani directed the DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield, while Ichiraku helmed the DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
As is usually the case with Nintendo, we probably won't find out who is directing Pokémon Winds and Waves until the game comes out – but it's an interesting prospect if true. Beyond the mainline games, Ohmori also co-directed the hit spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia, which recently received new Bubbly Basin DLC. So perhaps he's going to focus on that sub-franchise now.
