Pokémon Day 2026 was full of big announcements, with the most significant being the reveal of the 10th generation, Pokémon Winds and Waves.
As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, marking three decades since the release of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan, a major showcase on Pokémon Day detailed a wide array of what fans can look forward to.
The first Pokémon Winds and Waves trailer was packed with information, and Insider Gaming has highlighted the main things we learned.
7 Things We Learned From Pokémon Winds & Waves First Trailer
New Starter Pokémon
One of the biggest standouts from the Pokémon Winds and Waves first trailer was the reveal of three starter Pokémon that players will choose from at the beginning of their journey.
Pokémon does not always reveal the starters immediately when dropping the first tease for a new generation, and doing so this early is eye-catching. However, the trio are already starting to make an impression on fans.
Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua are the three Pokémon available at the start of the journey in Winds and Waves, and while they’re already fully revealed, there’s still plenty of mystery.
Costumed Pikachu
The Pokémon Wind and Waves trailer began by showcasing artwork from the various locations seen in previous games, before a knock on the door from two costumed Pikachu.
It turns out that they weren’t just there for the holiday vibes, as the two costumed Pikachu will appear in Gen 10. The exact version of the costumed Pikachu depends on which game you purchase.
No details have been shared on further details on the costumed Pikachu and how they fit into the game, but more is sure to be revealed soon.
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Returning Pokémon
While Pokémon Wind and Waves will be headlined by a new generation of Pokémon, adding to the already-bloated list of 1025 to find and collect, there will also be returning Pokémon. During the trailer, plenty were shown.
The likes of Wailord, Tangela, Wingull, Sandygast, Tympole, and Duskull were among those seen, which confirms their evolution lines will also feature, meaning there will be a host of familiar faces to encounter on your journey.
More Pokémon returns are certain to be shown in the future, and we could also see the debut of new regional forms.
Island Landscapes
Pokémon Winds and Waves will be an island-sprawling adventure, similar to what fans experience in Sun and Moon on the Nintendo 3DS, but with the added gem of being an open-world title.
Pokémon has moved away from the traditional linear structure in recent years, debuting a semi-open-world in Pokémon Legends: Arceus before a fully-fledged open-world adventure in Scarlet and Violet, and Winds and Waves will take this up a notch.
Further details on the environment will be revealed in the future, but there are already some stand-out landscapes.
Underwater Exploration
Pokémon Winds and Waves, as the name suggests, has big ties to the ocean, so bringing underwater exploration back for the 10th generation of the franchise was a natural step.
Although not explicitly stated to be the case, underwater exploration in Winds and Waves was leaked previously, and a tease toward the end of the trailer heavily suggested it will feature.
The footage showed the camera diving beneath the surface of the waves, with a variety of Pokémon swimming along and walking along the sandy floor.
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Switch 2 Exclusive
Unsurprisingly, the trailer confirmed that Pokémon Winds and Waves will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, with no mention of the original Switch console.
This was to be expected, considering Pokémon Pokopia is a Switch 2 exclusive, albeit also playable on the original Switch with gameshare, but similar features are unlikely to be present for Winds and Waves.
There’s plenty of time to secure a Switch 2 before Pokémon Winds and Waves releases, however.
2027 Release Window
While there was a lot of expectation that Pokémon Winds and Waves would be released this year, that is not the case, and a tentative 2027 release window has been set.
That would make it a five-year gap between the release of Gen 9, Scarlet and Violet, to Gen 10, the biggest gap between two generations of the Pokémon franchise. However, considering the performance problems Gen 9 had at launch, there’s unlikely to be many complaints.
A more precise release window will be announced in time, and it does leave the door open for Pokémon to drop something else in Fall 2026.
What stood out for you from the Pokémon Winds and Waves first trailer? Share your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Pokémon, read about the huge returns coming in Pokémon Go, and check out details of the 30th anniversary TCG set.
