Rumors and Leaks: Fact vs. Fiction

Plenty of rumors and so-called leaks are circulating around Pokémon Winds and Waves. This page sorts them out: what is official, what is a deduction and what remains a rumor.

Our rule

We present as official only what The Pokémon Company, Nintendo or Game Freak have published: press releases, official websites and videos. Rumors are flagged as such, with their date and nature. We do not relay any content from the 2024 hack of Game Freak: those documents were stolen, nothing guarantees they match the final game, and they expose the work of teams who had no say in it.

What is official

• Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves will release in 2027, on the same day worldwide, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
• They are open-world role-playing games developed by Game Freak, set in a region made of islands swept by the winds and lulled by the waves.
• The starters are Browt (Grass), Pombon (Fire) and Gecqua (Water).
• Two Pikachu with a brand-new look, Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu, will play a role in the adventure.
• The main character’s outfit changes depending on the version.
• The game will be available in eleven languages, including French and, for the first time, Brazilian Portuguese.
• The main theme was recorded by the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

The rumors, one by one

How to spot a fake leak

• No verifiable source: a screenshot without context or a “friend who works at Nintendo” proves nothing.
• Too many details too early: a complete list of Pokémon, stats, or the whole map more than a year before release is rarely reliable.
• New “official” visuals: fake artwork and fake box art are everywhere. A Winds and Waves box art is already going around even though none has been revealed.
• Precise dates without an announcement: until Nintendo or The Pokémon Company has published one, a date is just a guess.

For what has been verified: the essentials of Pokémon Winds and Waves · the confirmed Pokémon