"Leaked Details Hint at Bold Future for Pokemon Gen 10"

Summary

• According to leaks, the Generation 10 Pokemon games may be released for both the original Switch and Switch 2.
• The Switch 2 will be backward compatible, allowing it to play Switch 1 Pokemon games.
• More details on future Pokemon games are expected during the Pokemon Presents event on February 27.

Leaks suggest that the upcoming Generation 10 Pokemon games could be released on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2. Although no official announcements have been made about Generation 10 at the time of writing, it's widely speculated that these games would be developed for the Switch 2, given the performance issues faced by the Generation 9 games, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, on the original Switch. These games received criticism due to their open-world mechanics struggling on the older hardware, leading many to believe that Game Freak would transition to the Switch 2 for the next generation.

However, recent leaks shared by Centro Leaks from a Game Freak hacker indicate that the Generation 10 games, codenamed "Gaia," are primarily being developed for the original Switch. Additionally, a version called "Super Gaia" has been discovered, which appears to be tailored for the Switch 2. There's also evidence suggesting that Pokemon Legends: Z-A might receive a native release on the Switch 2.

Generation 10 Pokemon Games Could Be Coming to the Original Switch

While details about the Switch 2 are scarce, it's confirmed that the console will be backward compatible with the original Switch. This means that Switch 2 owners can play Generation 10 Pokemon games and Pokemon Legends: Z-A even if they are not natively released on the new console. The Switch 2 might offer enhanced performance for these games, similar to how newer Xbox and PlayStation consoles improve the experience of older games. However, how Nintendo might enhance these potential Switch 2 ports remains unclear.

As of now, no official information has been released about the Generation 10 Pokemon games, so fans should approach these leaks with caution. More news might be revealed during the anticipated Pokemon Presents event on February 27. However, it's reported that this event will focus on games coming to the original Switch, not the Switch 2. If Generation 10 is indeed targeting the original Switch, it could be some time before the Switch 2 sees its own main series Pokemon game.