Fresh details have been revealed for Pokémon Pokopia, and, while the game is advertised as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, it will be available to play on the original Nintendo Switch—with a catch.
Pokémon Pokopia will be released on March 4, 2026, shortly after Pokémon Day celebrates 30 years of the franchise, and it could be one of a few major Pokémon titles releasing next year.
Initially revealed in September’s Nintendo Presents, Pokémon Pokopia is a fresh twist for the franchise with a new style of game, and it turns out that original Switch players won’t be left out after all.
Pokémon Pokopia Supports Gameshare
In an extended trailer for Pokémon Pokopia released by Nintendo, it was announced the title will support Gameshare, and that the feature would allow players on Nintendo Switch to join the fun.
However, the title will not be able to be purchased on the original Nintendo Switch. Instead, the only way to play on the older generation of the console will be through the Gameshare feature with somebody nearby using a Nintendo Switch 2 hosting the game.
In small print for the GameShare feature on the trailer, Nintendo states that games “can only be played during that GameShare session” and “up to two players can play via GameShare simultaneously.” Crucially, it’s added that “Nintendo Switch 2 system(s) must initiate a GameShare session.”
To access the GameShare feature, a Nintendo Switch Online membership and Nintendo Account are required on both devices, and the progress will be saved on the host’s world. There’s no ability for a player on the original Nintendo Switch to save any progress from the session.
Although perhaps not the news original Nintendo Switch players had hoped for, it does open the door slightly for players to get a feel for Pokémon Pokopia if a friend or relative owns the game before splashing out for the title and a Nintendo Switch 2 console themselves.
What are your initial impressions of Pokémon Pokopia? Let us know your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Pokémon, read how the level 100 cap is being broken for the first time, and find out when the Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC releases.
So, it was compatible with the original Switch and they said ‘f u’.