From the first images, the message is clear: Gen 10 wants to hit hard visually, meet technical expectations, and install a new playground that is more maritime than ever, between submerged reefs and lava caves.
Pokémon Winds and Waves: Gen 10 made official on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027
The duo follows the tradition of releases in pairs, but with a detail that changes everything: these episodes are announced exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. The trailer reveals a vast open world made up of an archipelago, with land areas and underwater passages which suggest a more vertical and more varied exploration than the previous regions centered on large expanses.
In the official description, the promise is bluntly stated: “Developed by Game Freak exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, these new titles offer an open world to explore, with magnificent windswept islands and a vast ocean with shimmering waves” then “The Pokémon that live in harmony with the lush environment of this region have developed their own unique ecosystems. During this adventure, you will team up with all kinds of Pokémon to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way and even the forces of nature that arise will sometimes stand in your way.”
An archipelago, submarine and very marked biomes in the trailer
The world preview features dense jungles, a mangrove swamp, open water, submerged coral reefs, a futuristic resort with water slides, and even lava caves. The choice of an archipelago allows us to imagine a progression by islands, different approaches depending on the currents or the weather, and a more important place given to crossing and aquatic exploration.
The trailer ends with a more menacing atmosphere, carried by sounds of wind and waves which suggest that a storm is brewing. This detail teases a narrative issue or a natural danger, consistent with the very theme of the two versions.
Browt, Pombon, Gecqua: the three starters of Pokémon Winds and Waves
As is tradition, three starter Pokémon have been revealed, each rooted in a type: Browt (Plant), Pombon (Fire), and Gecqua (Water). Their appearance in the reveal plays an important role: it is often through starters that players project the tone of a generation, its influences, and the identity of the new region. Around these three, the announcement confirms that a whole new series of Pokémon will accompany the region, faithful to the milestone that a numbered generation implies.
Mr. Windychu, Ms. Wavychu and The Pokémon Company teaser
Among the surprises of the presentation, two Pikachu in holiday outfits are introduced as full characters: Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu. The Pokémon Company keeps the mystery alive with a very direct question: “What role could these Pikachu play in your adventure?”
On social media, a message accompanies the trailer and emphasizes what to look out for: “Here’s a first look at #PokemonWindsWaves 🍃🌊 Find out more about the main characters and the special Pikachu in this trailer!” The Pikachu duo is presented as a potential common thread, a narrative mascot or a gameplay device, without the presentation deciding for the moment. Four years after Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) and its Terastalization, Winds and Waves opens a new cycle, this time with a release timed on the Nintendo Switch 2 and an open world of islands that puts water and wind in the foreground.