Pokémon Winds and Waves may have been delayed by an entire year, with the reported development setback affecting more than just the next generation of Pokémon games. According to a leak shared by CentroLeaks, Game Freak originally planned to release the Nintendo Switch 2 titles in November 2026. However, the games allegedly fell behind schedule, forcing The Pokémon Company to move their launch to November 2027.
The report claims the decision was made at the last minute in January 2026, just weeks before the games were officially revealed. Although The Pokémon Company confirmed a 2027 release window during its February 27 Pokémon Presents, it has never announced that the games were originally scheduled for 2026. The reported delay and its alleged production consequences therefore remain unconfirmed.
Pokémon Winds and Waves Delay Reportedly Disrupted the Anime
The leak suggests Pokémon Horizons was among the projects most affected by the change. The original plan reportedly involved ending the series with Episode 136, but The Pokémon Company allegedly requested an additional story arc to introduce elements connected to Generation 10.
According to the report, the planned storyline initially involved Navi and Konetsu. However, following the alleged game delay, the production team reportedly scrapped several elements and replaced Konetsu with Ditto as part of the revised storyline.
The leak further claims that Pokémon Horizons will enter a hiatus in March 2027, potentially continuing until September or October. Its reworked Generation 10 storyline is reportedly expected to arrive in late 2027 and run for approximately 25 episodes.
The reported scheduling problems could also affect the franchise’s next animated series. CentroLeaks claims that pre-production is already underway, but the project is not expected to premiere before 2029 because of the changes surrounding the Generation 10 rollout.
The leak also suggests that Ash Ketchum is not currently planned to return as the protagonist. Instead, the next series will reportedly continue exploring different regions of the Pokémon world. These details have not been confirmed by the anime’s production team, so fans should treat the reported release window and character plans cautiously.
Pokémon Winds and Waves Remain Scheduled for 2027
The Pokémon Company officially announced Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves during its February 27, 2026, Pokémon Presents presentation. Developed by Game Freak, both games are scheduled to release simultaneously worldwide on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. Their announcement introduced an open-world setting featuring islands, a vast ocean, and three new first partner Pokémon: Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua. The Pokémon Company has not provided a specific launch date.
If the latest leak proves accurate, the delay would explain why the Generation 10 games and their accompanying anime storyline are arriving later than some fans initially expected. For now, however, the alleged November 2027 release, Pokémon Horizons hiatus, and 2029 anime premiere remain unverified claims rather than official announcements.
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Game Freak |
