Although Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen aren’t officially released on Switch and Switch 2 until February 27th, someone managed to download the games early. Rumors about these popular Game Boy Advance Pokemon games coming to Nintendo’s current consoles had been circulating, and The Pokemon Company eventually confirmed the ports. However, one fan got a surprise early access, likely by accident.
Just a week before they officially launched, Nintendo announced that Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen would be available as digital downloads on Switch. These aren’t complete remakes, but rather updated versions (ports) that include a few new features like local wireless co-op and, on the upcoming Switch 2, GameChat support. It’s fantastic news for longtime fans who can now revisit these classic games without needing to dust off their old consoles, and one lucky player even got to experience them ahead of schedule.
One Switch 2 User Gets Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Download Codes Early
On February 20th, a Twitter user named FedeFade posted a video showing someone already playing Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on a Nintendo Switch 2. The user explained they received download codes for the games a week before their official release after pre-ordering. Nintendo is releasing these Pokemon games differently than other titles on the Switch; they need to be purchased separately and aren’t included with the Nintendo Switch Online service. This fan bought the games from the My Nintendo Store, which occasionally sends download codes via email instead of offering direct downloads through the eShop, and received the codes within half an hour.
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The user received download codes for both FireRed and LeafGreen, likely hoping to get exclusive Pokémon from each version. However, only LeafGreen would launch. It seems Nintendo made a mistake by sending the codes so early, as others who tried to get them haven’t been successful. Nintendo apparently fixed the error on February 21st by remotely removing the game from the user’s console while it was online.
Games sometimes become available before their official release dates, and this isn’t a new occurrence. For example, physical copies of Resident Evil Requiem appeared in stores ten days early, which upset Capcom. While early releases of physical games happen occasionally, it’s rarer with games that are only available digitally. What’s even more unusual is that this happened on Nintendo’s own My Nintendo Store, not through another retailer. However, fans hoping to play FireRed and LeafGreen early likely won’t be able to, as Nintendo fixed the issue quickly, suggesting they’re taking measures to prevent similar problems in the future.
Pokemon fans won’t have to wait much longer to play the updated versions of FireRed and LeafGreen. They’ll be available to download right after the Pokemon Presents event on February 27th. With this being Pokemon’s 30th anniversary year, there’s a lot to look forward to! 2026 promises to be an exciting year for Pokemon fans, even if the new FireRed and LeafGreen versions aren’t available quite as soon as some had hoped.
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2026-02-25 00:10