While Pokemon fans have a lot to look forward to that is already official, one of the franchise’s most notable leakers gave some key release date info on the Gen-10 Pokemon games.
Generation 10 is on the horizon and fan speculation has touched everything from new Eeveelutions to a possible setting in Italy or Australia. Newly leaked information suggests that the 10th generation will begin not too long after.
Before then will be the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, due sometime in 2025. There are a number of possible explanations for why Generation 10 has a release date set in 2026. This could also mean the release of another spin-off game like Legends: Z-A before 2026.
Gen-10 Pokemon games will reportedly have a 2026 release date
One of the Pokemon series’ most notable leakers stated that the games will be released as part of Pokemon’s 30th anniversary.
Riddler Khu has given key information regarding upcoming Pokemon releases on multiple occasions. This was most recently seen with teases regarding the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, where they teased Ogerpon’s unique mask-changing mechanic and a visit to Unova. Their leaks come in the form of riddles, but that wasn’t really the case when it came to the Gen-10 Pokemon games.
The 30th anniversary of Pokemon comes in 2026, as the original Red and Green games were released in 1996 in Japan. Pokemon has celebrated its anniversary every five years in different ways across its various branches.
For the 25th anniversary in 2021, there was the special Celebrations line of cards and four new games; New Pokemon Snap, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and Legends Arceus. In 2016 for the 20th anniversary, the list of releases was even larger with Detective Pikachu, Pokemon GO, Sun and Moon, and the 3DS Virtual Console releasing the original Game Boy games.
With that in mind and Gen 10 being such a big milestone, it makes sense that The Pokemon Company would want to combine it with the series’ 30th anniversary. Alongside this, the opening of a Pokemon theme park and ports of handheld-era Pokemon games are both possible.
A 2026 release date for the Gen-10 Pokemon games also corresponds well with the introduction of the “successor to the Switch.” Nintendo’s next system will reportedly have backwards compatibility with older Switch games as well. Numerous reports and leaks say the console is set to come out in early 2025 to produce enough stock to avoid a PlayStation 5 scarcity debacle.
What is the next Pokemon game?
The next major Pokemon game release is set to be Pokemon Legends Z-A. Alongside this is the mobile game Pokemon TCG Pocket.
There’s usually a Pokemon game or two released between mainline games that’s made by a different studio. With the long layoff between Scarlet and Violet and the release date of the Gen-10 games, other titles will likely be released in the meantime. As ever, fans have expressed hope for everything from a new Mystery Dungeon to another remake.
With a Nintendo Direct reportedly scheduled for June, any number of Pokemon game options are possible, as is more information about Pokemon Legends: Z-A.