Pokémon is set to venture into a new generation following the reveal of Gen 10, Pokémon Winds and Waves, and, naturally, questions are emerging on whether players with a Nintendo Switch 1 will be able to play.
Revealed as part of Pokémon Day, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the franchise, Pokémon Winds and Waves is the landmark tenth generation of the beloved franchise, with Game Freak once again handling development.
If you’re looking for details on whether Winds and Waves will be available on the original Nintendo Switch, Insider Gaming has all the details.
Will Pokémon Winds & Waves Be Available On Nintendo Switch 1?
No, Pokémon Winds and Waves will not be available on the original Nintendo Switch console, with confirmation already available that it won’t be on the old-gen console.
This should not come as a surprise, as Pokémon Pokopia is also not available on the original Nintendo Switch, although it can be played online with a friend who has a Nintendo Switch 2 via the GameShare feature.
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By the time Pokémon Winds and Waves releases in 2027, Nintendo will be several years deep into the next generation of console, and the original Switch will be slowly eased out of releases.
As the year progresses, you should expect to see more and more games not available on the original Switch, as Nintendo jumps into the next era.
What Platforms Will Pokémon Winds & Waves Be Available On?
The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Winds and Waves will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, developed by Game Freak.
Pokémon titles have largely always been exclusive to Nintendo platforms, with a few exceptions for mobile releases. As such, it’s not surprising to see Winds and Waves limited to Switch 2.
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Further details on Pokémon Winds and Waves exclusivity status on Switch 2 are expected in the months ahead, with it expected that the system requirements of the game will be much more powerful than the original console could handle.
Pokémon had a shaky release with Scarlet and Violet, which did not perform well on the original Switch console at launch, and from what’s been shown from Winds and Waves so far, the performance demands are significantly higher.
Do you expect to see another Pokémon title released in 2026? Share your predictions in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Pokémon Winds and Waves, find out everything you need to know about the starter Pokémon, and take a look at everything we learned from the first trailer.
