Nintendo Reveals Pokémon Winds and Waves for Nintendo Switch 2, Unveiling Three New Starter Pokémon

Nintendo has officially announced the next generation of its flagship Pokémon franchise, revealing Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves as the upcoming paired titles for the Nintendo Switch 2, with a planned release window of 2027.

The announcement, accompanied by a debut trailer, marks the introduction of the 10th generation of the long-running role-playing game series. As is tradition with mainline Pokémon releases, players will be able to choose from three starter Pokémon at the beginning of their journey.

Meet the Generation 10 Starters

The trailer revealed the three new starter Pokémon:

• Browt — a Grass-type bird Pokémon
• Pombon — a Fire-type puppy Pokémon
• Gecqua — a Water-type gecko Pokémon

The trio follows the franchise's established Grass, Fire, and Water starter triangle that has been a hallmark of every mainline Pokémon generation since the series debuted in 1996.

What We Know So Far

Beyond the starter reveals, specific details about the games' regions, storylines, or additional features have not yet been disclosed. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have historically released mainline titles in pairs — such as Scarlet and Violet, Sword and Shield, and Sun and Moon — with the two versions sharing core gameplay but offering exclusive Pokémon and minor story differences.

The Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo's next-generation gaming console, was officially announced earlier in 2025 and is expected to serve as the primary platform for Nintendo's major first-party releases going forward.

Context and Expectations

A 2027 release window would place Winds and Waves roughly in line with the development cycles seen in recent Pokémon generations. Game Freak, the primary developer of mainline Pokémon titles, has faced increased scrutiny in recent years over game performance and polish, and a longer development runway could signal an effort to address those concerns ahead of launch.

The Pokémon franchise remains one of the best-selling video game series in history, and each new generation launch draws significant global attention. Early fan reaction to the starter Pokémon names — which follow the franchise's convention of portmanteau-style names reflecting the creature's type and animal basis — has already begun circulating on social media.

No additional gameplay footage, release date, or pricing details were announced alongside the initial reveal. Further information is expected at upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations.