Pokemon Presents Set for February 27; FireRed and LeafGreen Headed to Switch eShop
pokemon fans will see two classic Game Boy Advance titles arrive on Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2026, when Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are released as standalone eShop purchases; the announcement arrives alongside confirmation of a Pokémon Presents livestream scheduled the same day. The simultaneous event and re-releases matter because they reframe how the companies are marking the franchise anniversary and how legacy titles will be distributed.
What happened and what’s new
The Pokémon Company has scheduled a Pokémon Presents livestream for Friday, February 27, with the presentation set to begin at 9: 00 a. m. ET. The two Game Boy Advance titles, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, will be available on Nintendo Switch after the conclusion of that presentation. The games will be sold as standalone purchases at a listed price of $19. 99 in one currency and £16. 99 in another.
Nintendo has provided follow-up detail in a frequently asked questions document that explains why these particular versions were chosen for Switch releases rather than the original Red and Blue titles. In that FAQ, Nintendo said it believed users would welcome the versions that include additional features and upgrades over the original Red Version and Blue Version adventures, and that drove the decision to release FireRed and LeafGreen as standalone Switch titles. Nintendo added that it has nothing to announce regarding any other potential titles for the Game Boy: Nintendo Classics service.
The companies have also clarified distribution choices: the FireRed and LeafGreen releases will not be part of the Nintendo Switch Online classic games collection and instead will be sold separately on the eShop platform.
Behind the Pokemon headline
The simultaneous scheduling of a Pokémon Presents event and the launch of two legacy titles concentrates attention on the franchise anniversary while signaling a commercial approach favoring paid standalone re-releases over expanding the subscription-based classics library. Stakeholders include Nintendo (publisher and platform holder), The Pokémon Company (franchise steward and event organizer), and players and collectors evaluating how best to access legacy content.
Incentives and constraints are evident in the public statements: releasing upgraded or remastered versions allows the companies to market a clear product with added features, while preserving the curated lineup of subscription classics. The companies are under calendar pressure tied to the milestone date, and that timing shapes both the event and the product rollout.
What happens next
- What we still don’t know
- Whether original Red and Blue will receive standalone Switch releases outside of the selected FireRed and LeafGreen versions (still unannounced).
- Any additional titles that might be added to the Game Boy: Nintendo Classics offering (companies stated they have nothing to announce).
- Specific feature lists or technical details for the Switch versions beyond the general statement that FireRed and LeafGreen include upgrades over the originals.
- Further plans for the franchise’s next mainline entry, which have not been disclosed.
- Likely next steps and scenarios
- Immediate sales and attention spike: FireRed and LeafGreen become available after the Pokémon Presents presentation; consumer uptake will show demand for paid standalone classics.
- Conservative expansion: the companies keep developing paid re-releases of later enhanced legacy titles while leaving the subscription classics roster unchanged.
- Selective additions to classic services: if consumer response favors subscription access, the companies could later revisit adding other titles to the Game Boy: Nintendo Classics catalog, contingent on internal strategy decisions (currently unannounced).
- Announcement gap persists: the firms continue to withhold plans for a new mainline entry, making the event primarily a celebration and re-release rollout rather than a launch platform for next-generation core titles.
Why it matters
The approach taken here affects how longtime players and new audiences will access legacy content. Selling FireRed and LeafGreen as standalone eShop titles at the stated prices positions the companies to monetize enhanced legacy releases directly rather than funneling them through a subscription service. In the near term, the move centralizes attention on the franchise anniversary and gives the companies a controlled way to surface upgraded classics. For consumers, the practical implications are straightforward: there will be a paid option to obtain these particular remastered entries on Switch, and the availability of the original Red and Blue or further classics on subscription services remains unresolved.
For observers tracking franchise strategy, the dual announcement-style release and event timing offers a clear signal about product selection and distribution priorities at the anniversary moment. The immediate calendar item to watch is the Pokémon Presents presentation on February 27 at 9: 00 a. m. ET, after which FireRed and LeafGreen will be available for purchase on the Switch eShop.
