Leaks have revealed new characters and locations from the next mainline Pokémon game, including an early look at the Grass gym. Despite the recent announcements of Metroid Ravenous and Kirby And The World Beyond, Pokémon Winds and Waves is still set to be the biggest Nintendo Switch 2 game of 2027.
It’s unclear when exactly in 2027 it will launch, but it could be at the end of the year, unless Nintendo has another secret Christmas game (a new 3D Mario?) up its sleeve. As we await a release date, a wave of leaks has unearthed new details about the games, leading to a compiled recreation of the game’s map.
Early screenshots and characters
On Sunday (September 27), screenshots began to appear online allegedly showing an early version of Pokémon Winds and Waves from a Switch 1 devkit. These screenshots are said to be from 2023, and with the game set to be exclusive to Switch 2, the final version will undoubtedly (hopefully) look a lot different.
Regardless, they do provide some insight, with screenshots showing the region’s Champion character, who sports a bizarre beard. Additionally, there is a younger and older version of the character, which suggests there’ll be a time skip, or flashback, of some kind.
Map and locations
Other footage shows what it appears to be the Grass type gym, which is a tower that sits atop a mound of hills. Another leak, meanwhile, appears to show the Fighting type gym leader.
The most significant leak, however, is the new areas on the map, with one appearing to show the northern part of Australia. Nintendo hasn’t explicitly confirmed what part of the world Pokémon Winds and Waves is based on, but it’s set in a tropical archipelago that appears to resemble Indonesia. Based on this leak though, it seems like slices of Australia and other surrounding regions could be squeezed into the experience.
Fan-made map and expectations
Based on all the leaks so far, X user NewNinjason (as shared by Pokémon leaks account CentroLeaks) has shared what’s described as the ‘most complete version’ of the Winds and Waves map so far, stitched together from concept art and other sources. That’s very similar to how fans have tried to create a map for GTA 6, based on leaks and official information.
As ever, it’s best to take these leaks with a pinch of salt, as there’s a chance developer Game Freak has chopped and changed aspects of the map since. Nevertheless, it’s a solid indication of what to expect from the general topography in Pokémon Winds and Waves.
We’ll likely have to wait until next year for another official update from Nintendo, but as the tenth generation of Pokémon, Winds and Waves look set to be a landmark release for the series. The last two mainline entries have both been disappointments to some degree and developer Game Freak has admitted in the past that they need more time between games to ensure their quality. So given the impressive trailer it’s hoped this first Switch 2 game will show a clear break from the recent past.
