Pokémon Winds & Waves Announced

The nearly five-year gap between *Pokémon Scarlet and Violet* and the newly announced titles will mark the longest development period between mainline Pokémon generations. This extended timeline is seen by many as a direct response to the widespread criticism of *Scarlet and Violet's* significant technical and performance issues at launch. *Winds & Waves* will be developed exclusively for the Switch 2, making it the first core series entry built from the ground up for Nintendo's more powerful hardware. This move away from the original Switch is expected to allow for a significant graphical and performance leap, avoiding the problems that plagued its predecessors. The new games will take place in a tropical archipelago region inspired by Southeast Asia, featuring "beautiful windswept islands and a vast ocean with glittering waves." This setting continues the open-world design of *Scarlet and Violet*, with early footage confirming that underwater exploration will be a key feature. Three new starter Pokémon have been revealed: the Grass-type "Bean Chick Pokémon" Browt, the Fire-type "Puppy Pokémon" Pombon, and the Water-type "Water Gecko Pokémon" Gecqua. The announcement trailer also showcased two new variants of Pikachu, playfully named Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu, who are hinted to play a role in the story. Longtime Game Freak developer Shigeru Ohmori, who previously directed *Sun and Moon*, *Sword and Shield*, and *Scarlet and Violet*, is slated to direct the new titles. While not officially confirmed, alleged leaks suggest several new gameplay mechanics are being tested. These include a "Seed Pokémon" that evolves into unique forms based on the player's journey, the ability to control weather, and survival-like elements within the jungle environments. The Pokémon Presents showcase also included several other 30th-anniversary announcements, such as the addition of classic titles to the Switch 2's library and updates for various mobile games like *Pokémon GO*.