Two new Pokemon titles are heading to consoles next year as the beloved monster-collecting franchise celebrates three decades since its debut.
New games for Switch 2
The Pokemon Company announced on Friday that “Pokemon Winds” and “Pokemon Waves” will launch on Nintendo’s latest Switch 2 console. Players will explore a vibrant tropical world that extends down to the ocean floor, featuring both familiar creatures and new additions to the ever-growing roster.
The Pokemon Company, jointly owned by Nintendo, Japanese studio Game Freak and Creatures, oversees the brand that now boasts more than 1 000 different “pocket monsters”.
Long-time fans will also gain access to the original 1996 Game Boy titles through the Switch platform, Nintendo confirmed.
Franchise milestone
The announcement comes ahead of the 5 March release of “Pokopia”, a new spinoff title for the Switch 2 console.
Since the franchise’s Game Boy debut, Pokemon has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Console and mobile games have sold more than 500 million copies across the brand’s 30-year history, according to Pokemon Company and Nintendo figures.
Cultural impact
Originally drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese summer insect hunts, Pokemon gameplay centres on capturing and training fantastical creatures ranging from mouse-like beings to dragons. Players then pit these “pocket monsters” against each other in battles.
The franchise extends far beyond gaming, encompassing films, animated series and the augmented reality sensation “Pokemon Go”.
According to specialist data firm License Global, the Pokemon brand generated $12 billion in revenues during 2024, surpassing toy manufacturing giant Mattel.
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