Pokémon Day is almost here, and The Pokémon Company just dropped a massive gift ahead of the celebration. Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are officially coming to Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2026, dropping right after the Pokémon Presents showcase that kicks off at 6:00 a.m. PST that same morning.
Yes, Kanto is back, and this time you don’t need to dig out your old Game Boy Advance to relive it.
The announcement caught fans off guard because it was revealed before the Presents even aired, which has a lot of people wondering: if this is what they’re announcing early, what on earth is left for the actual show?
Back to Kanto, 30 years later
February 27 marks 30 years since Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green first launched in Japan, kicking off what would become the world’s highest-grossing media franchise.
To celebrate, The Pokémon Company is bringing back the GBA remakes that many fans consider the definitive version of the original Kanto adventure. FireRed and LeafGreen originally launched in 2004, upgrading the visuals, adding wireless features, and expanding the postgame while preserving the classic Pallet Town journey.
Nintendo explained its decision to bring back the enhanced GBA titles rather than the originals, saying Switch owners would enjoy revisiting the “ultimate versions of the original Pokémon adventures in the Kanto region.” Fair enough, it’s hard to argue with that.
What you need to know before you buy
Both titles will be available digitally at $19.99 USD each and will be playable on both Switch and Switch 2 at launch. A few important details worth knowing before hitting that pre-order button:
The games are digital-only, Nintendo of America confirmed there will be no physical releases in the West. Also, since the Switch version replicates the way the game was originally released, each language version is sold separately with no in-game language options, so make sure you grab the right one.
On the multiplayer side, local wireless trading and battling is supported, but online multiplayer is not available. And as for Pokémon HOME, connectivity won’t be available at launch but will arrive in a future update, allowing players to transfer Pokémon into Pokémon HOME.
No Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to purchase or play either title.
What’s left for the Pokémon Presents?
That’s the real question. Mark your calendars, the Pokémon Presents airs this Friday, February 27 at 6:00 a.m. PST, and if The Pokémon Company already dropped FireRed and LeafGreen before the show even started, it’s safe to say the broadcast itself is hiding something much bigger.
Fans are already going wild on social media speculating about a new mainline entry, and honestly, the hype is completely justified.
Whatever gets revealed that morning, Pokémon’s 30th anniversary is shaping up to be one heck of a party. Kanto is just the warm-up.
Are you hyped to jump back into Kanto on your Switch, or were you expecting something bigger? Drop your thoughts in the comments, we want to know!