Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Set for Switch Release on Feb. 27, 2026; Nintendo Explains Why Red and Blue Were Passed Over Ahead of Pokémon Presents

Fans of the pokemon franchise will see Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen arrive as standalone Switch eShop releases on February 27, 2026, timed to the series' 30th anniversary. The announcement comes with a follow-up FAQ from Nintendo explaining why the original Red and Blue titles were not chosen for standalone Switch releases, and it arrives ahead of a scheduled Pokémon Presents presentation the same day.

What happened and what’s new — Pokemon releases

Confirmed details: FireRed and LeafGreen, the Game Boy Advance remakes, will be sold as standalone Switch eShop titles on February 27, 2026. The two games will become available after the conclusion of a Pokémon Presents presentation planned for that date. The presentation itself will occur on February 27 and is intended to mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary; The Pokémon Company invited Trainers to tune in for updates and announcements.

On pricing and distribution, the FireRed and LeafGreen Switch releases will not join the Nintendo Switch Online classic games collection and instead will be sold individually at a fixed price identified for each title. In a FAQ released after the initial announcement, Nintendo explained its reasoning for choosing the GBA remakes over standalone releases of the original Red and Blue: it believed users would appreciate the ‘ultimate versions’ of those adventures, which include added features and upgrades compared with the original titles. When asked about the possibility of the original Red and Blue joining a Game Boy classics service, Nintendo said it had nothing to announce regarding other potential titles.

Behind the headline

The releases are aligned with a milestone celebration for the franchise, and the timing ties the product launches directly to a planned Pokémon Presents showcase. That juxtaposition gives both companies a clear promotional moment: a centralized presentation to reveal and immediately deliver classic re-releases. From Nintendo’s perspective, offering the enhanced GBA remakes as standalone purchases creates a clearer product choice for consumers than releasing the original Game Boy versions unchanged. For the company managing the brand, scheduling the presentation and the releases on the same day concentrates attention ahead of the anniversary.

Stakeholders include Nintendo as the platform holder and distributor on the Switch eShop, The Pokémon Company as the franchise overseer organizing the presentation, and players who may have expected original Red and Blue editions to return. Retail pricing decisions and whether titles appear in subscription libraries affect consumers’ options and purchasing choices.

What we still don’t know

• Whether the original Red and Blue titles will ever receive standalone Switch releases beyond Nintendo’s current FAQ response.
• Whether the original Red and Blue will be added to any Game Boy classics service in the future; Nintendo said it has nothing to announce at this time.
• Technical details about the Switch eShop versions of FireRed and LeafGreen, such as emulator features, save options, or online functionality.
• Exact local launch times in Eastern Time for the eShop releases apart from their availability after the presentation.
• Further franchise plans beyond the presentation, including any mainline entry updates; The Pokémon Company has not outlined next mainline plans in the announcement.

What happens next

• Scenario: The Pokémon Presents goes ahead on February 27 and the FireRed and LeafGreen eShop releases become available immediately after the presentation — trigger: the scheduled presentation and post-show eShop updates.
• Scenario: Nintendo later adds original Red and Blue to a Game Boy classics offering — trigger: a separate announcement changing the current stance that there is nothing to announce about other titles.
• Scenario: The Switch eShop releases generate significant sales and prompt additional classic re-releases or remasters — trigger: strong consumer uptake after launch.
• Scenario: Consumers push for extra features or enhancements not present in the announced versions, prompting clarifications or updates from Nintendo — trigger: community feedback after release.

Why it matters

The pairing of a curated presentation and immediate availability creates a direct path from announcement to purchase, which can concentrate commercial impact on release day. For players, the choice to sell the enhanced GBA remakes as standalone titles rather than add earlier Game Boy originals to a subscription collection shapes how nostalgic content is monetized and preserved on current hardware. Near-term implications include how collectors and long-time fans will respond to the pricing and to the lack of a confirmed path for the very first Red and Blue titles, and whether the presentation will include further franchise news beyond these re-releases.

As the Feb. 27 event approaches, attention will focus on the presentation itself and on any additional details released about the new Switch versions and the franchise’s plans for the anniversary year.