Pokémon Day 2026: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Launch on Nintendo Switch TODAY
Pokémon Day 2026 is here — and it arrives with a history-making payload. Today, Friday, February 27, 2026, marks the 30th anniversary of the franchise's original Japanese debut, and The Pokémon Company is celebrating in the biggest way possible: Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are available to download from the Nintendo eShop after the conclusion of the Pokémon Presents beginning today at 9:00 AM ET.
Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen Are Live on Nintendo Switch Right Now
The Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Switch 2 ports released immediately after the Pokémon Day 2026 Pokémon Presents livestream concluded this morning, going live at approximately 9:25 AM ET. Both titles cost $19.99 each and are available as download-only titles on the Nintendo eShop — there is no physical release at this time.
The Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Nintendo Switch versions return for the first time in over 20 years, celebrating 30 years of Pokémon by letting players explore the Kanto region and reunite with iconic characters in their original settings. New and longtime players alike can now experience the full original 151 Pokémon on modern hardware.
Pokémon Presents 2026: A 25-Minute 30th Anniversary Showcase
This year's Pokémon Day 2026 Pokémon Presents livestream began at 9:00 AM ET and ran for 25 minutes — a tightly focused broadcast built around the franchise's milestone 30th anniversary. Last year's Pokémon Day event brought the reveal of Pokémon Championship, details about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and TCG updates — but the 2026 show was widely expected to be significantly larger given the anniversary.
Leaks and rumors heading into today's showcase consistently pointed to a Generation 10 reveal, which would mark the first opportunity for mainline Pokémon games to debut on Switch 2, giving the series a long-awaited chance to respond to frequent criticism of its graphics and performance. Fan anticipation heading into the broadcast was described by multiple outlets as some of the highest in the franchise's history.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Are Already Topping the Nintendo eShop Charts
The preload response was immediate and overwhelming. Following the surprise announcement at the end of last week, Pokémon FireRed led the Nintendo eShop charts before it even officially launched, with LeafGreen close behind. Both titles climbed to the top of the eShop bestseller list within hours of preloading becoming available — a remarkable achievement for ports of 2004 Game Boy Advance titles.
Players can choose between English, French, and Spanish language versions — though each language is sold separately, as the Nintendo Switch version replicates the way the game was originally released with no in-game language switching options. Buyers are urged to confirm their preferred language before completing their purchase.
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Both Supported — Pokémon HOME Integration Teased
Pokémon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version are fully playable on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2 system. Select music tracks from both games have also been added to the Nintendo Music app, available to Nintendo Switch Online members who can stream or download the classic GBA soundtrack on their smart devices.
The most exciting rumored feature is Pokémon HOME integration — not officially confirmed on the eShop page, but strongly hinted at in pre-launch leaks. If real, players could catch Pokémon in FireRed and LeafGreen and transfer them directly to the cloud app, making those classic Kanto catches usable in modern titles. Pokémon HOME connectivity alone could make this the most consequential Pokémon re-release in franchise history.
Pokémon Day 2026 Celebrations Extend Far Beyond the eShop
Walmart launched a dedicated Pokémon Week event running through March 1 with exclusive Trading Card Game drops, deals on Pokémon titles, and anniversary collectibles — all timed to Pokémon Day 2026. LEGO also revealed its first-ever official Pokémon sets, featuring buildable Pikachu and Eevee models, with pre-orders going live this week. An 80-minute gameplay livestream featuring the newly announced Pokémon Pokopia for Switch 2 is also scheduled, giving fans a first extended look at what may become one of the franchise's most ambitious new directions yet.
