New Pokemon Starters Debut in Winds and Waves Trailer, 2027 Release Named
The next generation of Pokémon arrived during the franchise’s "Pokémon Presents" 30th anniversary livestream, which unveiled the new pokemon starters and offered a first look at two new titles, Winds and Waves.
New Pokemon Starters: Browt, Pombon and Gecqua
The presentation introduced three starter Pokémon by name: the grass-type chick Browt, the fiery, Pomeranian-inspired Pombon and the water gecko Gecqua. The reveal placed those three at the center of the franchise’s 10th generation rollout and tied them directly to the two new games, Winds and Waves.
A teaser that begins with a knock at the door
The trailer opened in an oceanfront home with a knock at the door; when the door swung open, two costumed Pikachus appeared, hinting at an expanded level of customization for the electric mascot. One Pikachu wore sunglasses, a white hat and a floral shirt, while the other wore a blue cap and a matching dress. The short teaser then zoomed out over the unnamed region where Winds and Waves take place.
An open region filled with familiar Pokémon
The footage showed a diverse, open world: a tropical forest with a roaming Tropius and a Gloom, an ocean with a gigantic Wailord spewing water from its spout, grassy plains with Tailow and a lava-filled volcano with Slugma. Viewers also saw a massive tower floating in the water that could be some kind of gym, plus a beachside town with buildings connected by aquatic bridges. The trailer suggested a robust day-night cycle, with different Pokémon appearing during the early morning, sunset and dusk.
Stray note: an unrelated "IGN Error 418" line
An unrelated line in the provided materials carried the heading "IGN Error 418 - I am a teapot" and the short text "Short and stout, this is my handle, this is my spout. "
Ports, classic titles and a new battling game
Alongside Winds and Waves, previously announced ports are coming to Nintendo Switch Online: FireRed and LeafGreen, as well as the 2005 GameCube title Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. A new battling game titled Pokémon Champions was also announced; it will release on the Switch in April and on mobile devices later this year.
Release timing and what’s next
The presentation stated that the new games will release next year on the Nintendo Switch 2, while the attached headline lists a 2027 release date; the two statements differ on the calendar year. The livestream itself named Winds and Waves as the first look at the franchise’s 10th generation and tied the three starters directly to those titles.
Confirmed next items on the schedule include Pokémon Champions on the Switch in April, the arrival of FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch Online, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness joining the service. The banner release timing for Winds and Waves will be clarified in future announcements.
