Pokémon reveals new games Pokémon Winds, Pokémon Waves
Julia GomezPokémon announced the new games "Pokémon Winds" and "Pokémon Waves" during its 30th celebration with a presentation called Pokémon Presents on Pokémon Day.
Friday, Feb. 27, is Pokémon Day and marks the start of the franchise's 30th anniversary celebration. A live stream was conducted to announce upcoming events and games on the official Pokémon YouTube, Twitch, Instagram and TikTok channels.
At the end of the event, the franchise officially announced the games "Pokémon Winds" and "Pokémon Waves." The games are set to release for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. Pokémon did not announce an exact date.
First look at 'Pokémon Winds' and 'Pokémon Waves'
What is Pokémon Day?
Pokémon Day marks the anniversary of the release of the first Pokémon video games, "Pokémon Red" and "Pokémon Green," in Japan in 1996.
Previously, Pokémon announced that the celebration would last a year, according to a news release.
On Feb.4, Pokémon stated that fans can purchase 30th-anniversary-inspired merchandise from the franchise's online retailer, Pokémon Center, which has already begun to sell products inspired by the event.
Participating retailers will also sell the Pokémon Trading Card Game collection "Pokémon TCG: Pokémon Day 2026 Collection" to celebrate Pokémon Day, Friday, Feb. 27, marking the anniversary of the release of the first Pokémon video games, "Pokémon Red" and "Pokémon Green," in Japan in 1996.
What is Pokémon?
If you're a millennial or Gen Z, you've likely heard of Pokémon, played the games or watched the anime after you got home from school.
The franchise, which began as a Japanese Game Boy game in 1996, is huge and includes a long list of video games, a card game, TV shows, and more.
Pokémon's popularity made its characters, such as Pikachu, Squirtle, and Charizard, household names. It is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties worldwide, comparable to Disney characters and Super Mario Bros.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].