Pokemon Firered and LeafGreen Confirmed for Switch on Feb. 27; Red/Blue Not Receiving Standalone Releases
The latest announcement confirms that pokemon firered and its counterpart LeafGreen — originally released on the Game Boy Advance — will be released as standalone Switch eShop titles on February 27, 2026. That date also coincides with a scheduled franchise livestream event, and organizers say the two games will become available after the presentation concludes.
Why Pokemon Firered was prioritized over the original Red/Blue
Organizers provided a follow-up FAQ that addresses why the modern re-releases focus on FireRed and LeafGreen rather than the original Red and Blue titles. The explanation centers on the idea that FireRed and LeafGreen represent enhanced versions of the earliest adventures, adding features and upgrades to the content of the originals. That framing guided the choice to offer standalone versions of the enhanced titles instead of separate re-releases of Red and Blue.
The FAQ also made clear that there is currently no announcement about other potential classic titles joining the platform's library. This leaves the status of the original Red and Blue games as unchanged for the moment, with further updates possible in the future but not guaranteed.
Release timing, event details and pricing
The franchise livestream is scheduled for February 27 and will air on the company's official livestream channels. The presentation is set to begin at 9: 00 a. m. ET, and the newly announced Switch releases will be available after the presentation finishes. The two re-releases will not be included in the console's classic games collection and will instead be offered individually at a set retail price of $19. 99 / £16. 99 each.
This approach separates the standalone releases from the subscription-style classic games offering, meaning players who want these upgraded versions will need to purchase them directly rather than access them through the classic collection.
What this means for fans and what to watch for next
- Fans seeking the most feature-complete versions of early entries should expect pokemon firered and LeafGreen to be presented as the modernized options for those adventures.
- The livestream on February 27 will serve both as the celebration tied to the franchise milestone and as the moment the games become available, so availability will follow the presentation.
- The company has stated it has nothing to announce regarding additional classic titles at this time, so any expansion of the classic lineup remains uncertain and should be treated as developing.
In short, the decision to prioritize the enhanced Game Boy Advance versions over standalone re-releases of the originals is being framed as a way to deliver the more complete, upgraded experiences first. Details may evolve in the coming days and weeks, and the livestream presentation on February 27 is the next scheduled moment to learn more.
