Game Boy Advance classics will be available in the eShop starting February 27
Compartir:
Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen officially return. Nintendo has confirmed that both titles will be available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 starting February 27, 2026.
The announcement was made as part of the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The games will be available for individual purchase on the Nintendo eShop immediately after the Pokémon Presents event.
They will not be included in Nintendo Switch Online
Unlike other retro classics, FireRed and LeafGreen will not be part of the Nintendo Switch Online catalog.
The decision is based on technical criteria related to data integrity. Features such as quick save or rewind could affect the generation and transfer of creatures.
The Pokémon Company aims to prevent possible manipulations that could compromise compatibility with Pokémon Home, the service that allows players to transfer Pokémon between different games.
This means that users will have to purchase them separately, outside the subscription service.
Pokémon FireRed y LeafGreen llegan a Nintendo Switch el 27 de febrero
Faithful original experience with technical improvements
The titles were originally released in 2004 for Game Boy Advance. This new version will preserve the classic essence.
They will include an updated Wireless Club system. It will allow local battles between consoles without an internet connection, replicating the original connectivity.
There will be no traditional online play, but there will be compatibility with Pokémon Home. This will allow players to transfer captured creatures to more recent installments in the series.
Celebration of 30 years of Pokémon
The re-release coincides with the 30th anniversary of the franchise's debut in Japan.
There are expectations that Pokémon Presents will also feature news about current titles and future projects.
For new players, it will be an opportunity to experience the Kanto region on modern consoles. For veterans, it represents the return of two key installments in the history of the series.
With this move, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are betting on combining nostalgia, preservation, and connectivity within the current Pokémon ecosystem.
