Pokemon Gen 10 Leak Reveals Bold New Strategy

Recent leaks from the Pokémon franchise indicate that Generation 10 games could be natively released for both the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. While the tenth-generation games haven't been officially announced, many assumed they would be developed exclusively for the Switch 2 rather than the original hardware.

The original Switch already hosted both Generation 8 and 9 Pokémon games, with the latter facing performance issues. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's open world experienced significant lag on the older hardware, leading fans to expect that Game Freak would transition entirely to the Switch 2 for the next generation. However, new leaks challenge that assumption.

According to details shared by Centro Leaks, sourced from a Game Freak hacker, the codename for Generation 10 is "Gaia," and it's primarily in development for the original Switch. A separate version known as "Super Gaia" has also been discovered, potentially serving as the Switch 2 iteration. There are also hints that Pokémon Legends: Z-A might receive a native Switch 2 release.

Generation 10 Pokémon Games May Launch on Original Switch Hardware

Although concrete details about the Switch 2 remain limited, Nintendo has confirmed backward compatibility with original Switch games. This means Switch 2 owners will still be able to play Generation 10 titles and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, even without dedicated ports. The Switch 2 may run these games more efficiently, similar to performance boosts on newer Xbox and PlayStation consoles, but this has yet to be confirmed. It's unclear how Nintendo might enhance these potential Switch 2 versions, especially since the console will support them out of the box.

As of now, no official announcements have been made regarding Generation 10 Pokémon games, so fans should approach this information cautiously. More news may surface during the upcoming Pokémon Presents event on February 27. However, reports indicate that the event will center on games for the original Switch, not the Switch 2. If Generation 10 is indeed targeting the original Switch, it could be years before the Switch 2 receives a dedicated main-series Pokémon game.