Pokémon Winds and Waves won’t release until 2027, but a few preparations are worth making right now: the console, your Pokémon from older games, and something to keep you busy while you wait.

1. Plan for a Nintendo Switch 2

The game will release only on Nintendo Switch 2. If you still have a Switch, a Switch Lite or a Switch OLED, you will need to change consoles. There is no rush: you have time to watch for a deal, and Nintendo sometimes offers editions in the colors of the big Pokémon games. The Switch 2 plays most first-generation Switch games and lets you transfer your data.

Everything about the Switch 2 exclusivity

2. Save your old Pokémon before February 26, 2027

If you have Pokémon in X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Black and White (and Black 2 and White 2) or the Virtual Console versions of Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal, transfer them to Pokémon Bank, then from the Bank to Pokémon HOME, before that date. Afterwards, they will remain stuck on the 3DS.

Our mini-sites explain the procedure for each game: Sun and Moon and X and Y.

3. Tidy up Pokémon HOME

Winds and Waves’ compatibility with Pokémon HOME has not been announced yet. All the main games released since Sword and Shield are linked to it or have been announced as such: that is where your Pokémon should wait. Take the opportunity to gather your Pokémon from Sword and Shield, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

4. Games to play while you wait

5. Follow the announcements without spoiling the surprise

The next probable big event is the Pokémon Presents on Pokémon Day, February 27, 2027. This page and the whole mini-site are updated with every official announcement. If you want to keep the surprise, be wary of social media as the release approaches: leaks spread fast there, especially about the starters’ evolutions.

Rumors and leaks: fact vs. fiction

When does Pokémon Bank close?

Its closure, along with that of Poké Transporter, has been announced for February 26, 2027. Transfer your Pokémon from 3DS games to Pokémon HOME before that date.

Will Pokémon HOME be compatible with Winds and Waves?

That has not been announced yet, but all recent main games are linked to Pokémon HOME, or have been announced as such.

Should I buy a Switch 2 now?

Not necessarily: Winds and Waves releases in 2027. But you will need a Switch 2 to play it, as the original Switch is not compatible.