New Pokemon Starters Join 10th Generation as ‘Winds’ and ‘Waves’ Set for 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2
The Pokémon franchise unveiled the 10th generation with a first look at Winds and Waves during its Pokémon Presents 30th anniversary livestream, revealing the new pokemon starters and a teaser of a more expansive open world ahead of a 2027 release on Nintendo Switch 2. The presentation also confirmed multiple legacy re-releases and a new battling title with precise platform timelines that affect players’ expectations for the coming year.
New Pokemon Starters: Browt, Pombon and Gecqua revealed
The three starter Pokémon were shown during the presentation: Browt, described as a grass-type chick; Pombon, a fiery creature inspired by a Pomeranian; and Gecqua, a water gecko. These new pokemon starters represent the first formal introductions to the 10th generation lineup and were highlighted alongside sweeping shots of the unnamed region where Winds and Waves take place.
Pokémon Presents 30th anniversary livestream unveils Winds and Waves
The company used its Pokémon Presents 30th anniversary livestream to deliver the first footage of Winds and Waves and to announce the games will launch in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2. In the final minutes of the presentation a short teaser opened in an oceanfront home with a knock at the door; when it opened, two costumed Pikachus stepped in—one wearing sunglasses, a white hat and a floral shirt, the other in a blue cap and a matching dress—pointing to a possible new level of customization for the franchise’s electric icon.
Trailer imagery: Tropius, Wailord, Tailow and Slugma populate the region
The trailer zoomed over an unnamed region that appeared more expansive and detailed than previous recent worlds such as Scarlet and Violet or Legends Z-A. Viewers saw a tropical forest with a roaming Tropius and Gloom; an ocean featuring a gigantic Wailord spewing water from its spout; grassy plains with Tailow in flight; and a lava-filled volcano with Slugma oozing around. The clip also included a massive tower floating in the water that could be some kind of gym and a beachside town with buildings connected by aquatic bridges. The presentation indicated a robust day-night cycle, with different Pokémon appearing during early morning, sunset and dusk.
Nintendo Switch 2 timeline and related releases
Winds and Waves are slated for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2. The showcase also confirmed additional releases tied to Nintendo platforms: FireRed and LeafGreen will arrive on Nintendo Switch Online, and the 2005 GameCube title Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness will be added to that service as well. Separately, a new battling game titled Pokémon Champions will be released on the Switch in April and will arrive on mobile devices later this year, giving competitive players a clear two-platform rollout.
IGN Error 418 - I am a teapot
In an unrelated but distinct note present in the event’s wider coverage details, an entry labeled IGN Error 418 - I am a teapot appeared with the text: "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. "
The livestream’s sequence of reveals—starters, open-world footage, platform timing and legacy re-releases—creates a direct chain of cause and effect: the 30th anniversary presentation caused the simultaneous unveiling of the 10th generation, concrete release year, and a slate of accompanying titles and platform plans. What makes this notable is the combination of clearly dated platform commitments for Winds and Waves in 2027 and visible design choices, like Pikachu customization and an apparently larger, more varied region, which together set early expectations for how the franchise will position itself on Nintendo Switch 2.
Taken together, the announcements lay out a structured release calendar—2027 for Winds and Waves on Nintendo Switch 2, April for Pokémon Champions on Switch with a later mobile release, and multiple classic titles arriving on Nintendo Switch Online—giving players and stakeholders measurable timelines and several points of interest to follow as the franchise approaches its next generation.
