Will Pokémon Winds and Waves be on Switch 1?

Nintendo has moved the series to the new hardware

The 10th generation of the mainline Pokémon series will not be released for the original Nintendo Switch. The two new entries, Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, have been announced as exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 and are scheduled to launch in 2027. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company confirmed that these titles will not arrive on the older Switch hardware.

Key facts to know

• Platform: Exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Release window: Scheduled for 2027.
• Scope: The new generation is built for Switch 2’s capabilities, with an open‑world style and technical upgrades compared with recent Pokémon titles.
• Starters and setting: The trailer revealed three starter Pokémon (Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua) and a region inspired by Southeast Asia.

What this means for players

Owners of the original Switch will not be able to run these new mainline entries on their older systems. The decision signals The Pokémon Company and Nintendo leaning into the Switch 2’s hardware to deliver a more ambitious, visually upgraded experience. For many fans this represents a clear moment where the franchise advances to the newer console generation, so buy or upgrade decisions hinge on whether players want to experience Gen‑10 at launch on the intended hardware.