Pokemon Gen 10 may be tempted to jump the gun with its release date, but it could shoot itself in the foot instead

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2025 holds significant excitement for me as a dedicated Pokemon fan, with the mobile game Pokemon TCG Pocket breaking sales records, Pokemon VGC tournaments reaching new heights, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A set to launch in October. The anticipated upgrade of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on Nintendo Switch 2, enabling smoother gameplay at 60 FPS and increased visibility for those elusive shiny critters, has certainly not gone unappreciated. However, this year also brings a touch of disappointment as we haven’t heard any announcements about the Gen 10 Pokemon games that many of us have been eagerly waiting for.

While Pokemon Legends: Z-A is stepping up to fill the void during the typical three-year cycle for mainline Pokemon games by introducing fresh regions and creatures, it’s anticipated that Gen 10 of Pokemon will create a huge sensation upon its release. Given the anticipation among fans who believed it would debut this year, it’s possible that The Pokemon Company could bring us the Gen 10 games slightly ahead of schedule in 2026, but doing so might not be advisable for several important reasons, starting with the availability of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2’s Scarce Availability is an Issue For Pokemon Gen 10

According to analyst reports, it’s possible that the Nintendo Switch 2 might not be widely available until spring of 2026. This prediction seems reasonable given the console’s scarcity at its initial launch in both Japan and global markets. It appears that Nintendo underestimated the demand for the console, resulting in many fans being unable to purchase one due to scalpers and third-party sellers inflating prices significantly. Unfortunately, even official channels like the Nintendo store haven’t had enough supply to meet this high demand.

Why Pokemon Gen 10 Releasing in Early 2026 Would be a Big Problem

It might cause quite a stir if Pokemon Company were to bring out the Generation 10 games slightly ahead of schedule, and there’s evidence suggesting they might do so. Here are a few justifications for this anticipation:

If Pokemon Company were to release the Generation 10 games prematurely, it could stir up quite a commotion, and there seems to be some indication that this may occur. Here’s why we think so:

  • Mainline Pokemon games typically come out every three years, and this development cycle was broken this year with Gen 10 not being announced (and thus being a 2026 release). For this reason, The Pokemon Company may want to release Pokemon Gen 10 before the usual November window.
  • 2026 will mark the 30th anniversary of Pokemon games as a whole, so it would make sense to release Gen 10 earlier in the year. Doing so on the 30th anniversary, in February, would also be nice, but it’s highly unlikely.

The leaks about Pokemon Gen 10 suggest that the game might be designed specifically for Nintendo Switch 2, though this hasn’t been confirmed yet. Even if it isn’t exclusive to Switch 2, Pokemon Legends: Z-A demonstrates that the new hardware would likely offer superior performance compared to the original Switch. If Gen 10 turns out to be a console exclusive, releasing it before people can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 could stir up controversy and create issues because not everyone would have access to the console yet.

If Game 10 isn’t exclusive to Switch 2 but is released in early 2026, it might encounter the same difficulties as Game 9. The initial launch problems with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet persisted for several months, making the games nearly unplayable on the Switch. Given that Game 10 could have a similar scale to Game 9, releasing it in early 2026 for both the original Switch and Switch 2 might compel many fans to play it on the initial console, potentially amplifying any performance issues that may arise.

The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to significantly influence the timing of Pokemon Generation 10’s release compared to other factors. This is because releasing the new console prior to the next major Pokemon game would give fans an opportunity to purchase it beforehand, especially if the game turns out to be exclusive. However, since Pokemon Legends: Z-A might receive post-launch support, Generation 10 could potentially stick to its usual November release date. The final decision is yet to be made.

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2025-07-06 22:43