Pokemon Firered and LeafGreen Confirmed for Switch on Feb. 27; Nintendo Explains Choice Over Red/Blue

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have announced that pokemon firered and Pokémon LeafGreen will be released as standalone Nintendo Switch eShop titles on Feb. 27, 2026, available after a scheduled Pokémon Presents presentation that day. The move clarifies why the original Red and Blue releases were not selected for separate Switch re-releases.

Pokemon Firered — What happened and what’s new

The Pokémon Company has scheduled a Pokémon Presents presentation for Feb. 27, 2026, with the livestream set to begin at 9: 00 a. m. ET. The two Game Boy Advance-era remakes, Pokemon firered and LeafGreen, are slated to appear and will become purchasable on the Nintendo Switch eShop after the presentation concludes. Nintendo and the Pokémon Company have made clear these titles will be sold as standalone purchases rather than added to the platform’s classic-games subscription collection; each will carry a listed price of $19. 99 in U. S. currency and the equivalent figure in another market currency.

Behind the headline

Nintendo and the Pokémon Company chose the GBA remakes over separate releases of the original Red and Blue entries because the remakes contain additional features and upgrades beyond the originals. That rationale was shared in a follow-up FAQ circulated after the release announcement, and the companies emphasized the decision reflects a preference to offer the enhanced versions of those early adventures.

The release is timed to coincide with the franchise’s 30th anniversary presentation. Nintendo has also stated it currently has no announcements regarding other potential classic titles or additions to the Game Boy-oriented classic-games offerings.

What we still don’t know

• Whether the original Pokémon Red and Blue will be made available separately on Switch or added to any classic-games service at a later date.
• Specific details about the exact features and upgrades included in the Switch releases beyond the general characterization that they expand on the original titles.
• Technical and connectivity details for the new releases, including any modern online or trading functionality.
• How regional pricing, language support, and included bonus content will be handled across markets.
• Whether additional legacy Pokémon titles will receive similar standalone treatment following this rollout.

What happens next

• Planned launch: The Pokémon Presents event on Feb. 27, 2026, at 9: 00 a. m. ET triggers the immediate availability of the two titles on the Switch eShop. Trigger: the scheduled presentation concludes and the eShop listings go live.
• No broader classics rollout: Nintendo maintains there are no announcements about other classic titles, leaving the original Red/Blue absent from the current plan. Trigger: an official update or FAQ revision announcing changes to classic-games offerings.
• Consumer reaction and sales pressure: Strong purchase demand for the standalone titles could prompt further re-releases or clarifications about library membership versus one-off purchases. Trigger: observable sales performance and public response following launch.
• Feature disclosures: Additional technical details may be released ahead of or after launch, clarifying what upgrades are included. Trigger: follow-up communications from the companies or product listings that enumerate features.

Why it matters

For owners and fans, the decision to offer pokemon firered and LeafGreen as paid standalone Switch eShop titles rather than include them in a subscription-style classics collection affects how players access and pay for these legacy experiences. The choice to prioritize the remakes reflects a product strategy that favors enhanced versions of early entries rather than straight emulations of the original cartridges. Near-term, players who expected the originals to appear on a subscription service will need to purchase the remade titles individually if they want to play them on Switch.

More broadly, the release timing tied to the franchise anniversary and the companies’ stated preference for upgraded remakes signal how the franchises’ custodians are balancing preservation, commercial pricing and the presentation of legacy content to current platforms. The coming presentation and the immediate availability of the two titles will provide a practical test of that approach.