Pokemon Winds and Waves won’t be out until 2027, but it looks like a few Poke-leaks are already surfacing. The Switch 2 exclusive is the next mainline entry in the series, and like previous games before it, it’ll introduce a whole new region populated with unique Pokemon. Just how many new Pokemon will there be? According to one report, we could be looking at hundreds of new critters to collect.
Traditionally, each new mainline Pokemon game introduces around 100 new Pokemon–Generations 6-9 were the exception here–and we’ve already seen the starter Pokemon for Generation 10–Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua. According to the usually reliable Centro Leaks, Pokemon Winds and Waves will have around 300 new Pokemon and forms in the game, and that’s an important distinction. If the trio of starter Pokemon follows the usual pattern of having two evolutionary forms, then that’s nine Pokemon right off the Zubat. Throw in brand-new pocket monsters–including challenging Legendary Pokemon–and the number climbs even further.
But as mentioned above, this number also includes Pokemon forms. That’s a broad term, but usually, it includes regional variants of existing Pokemon, transformed versions based on a game-exclusive gimmick like the Gigantimax gameplay mechanic, and new evolutions for older Pokemon. Combine all that, and it’s not unfeasible for Pokemon Wind and Waves to reach that reported number of 300 new Pokemon. “An important note is that the only aspect we’ve been able to verify that multiple sources have heard independently is about the number of 300 new Pokemon placeholders,” Centro Leaks added.
Currently, the record for new additions to a Pokemon game belongs to Pokemon Black and White, which saw 156 new Pokemon added to the franchise. Other rumors circulating around Pokemon Winds and Waves claim that MMOs will inspire the game and will have a deep focus on communication. Post-launch DLC for the game is also said to be in development already, and one of the new battle gimmicks is reportedly based around the concept of weather, with Pokemon like Arcanine, Pikachu, and Kecleon getting special forms based on the conditions around them.
In case you missed the initial reveal for it, you can check out an orchestral behind-the-scenes video for Pokemon Winds and Waves’ first reveal trailer.
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