Can you believe it’s been thirty years since Pokémon first became a part of our everyday lives? How far it’s come since the days of the Red, Blue, Green and Yellow games. The first cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the television show? Truth be told, there have been so many milestones for Pokémon as a franchise overall over these years that it’s hard to pinpoint each one. However, for many of us, we’ve grown up with Pokémon in one way or another.
With this year’s Pokémon Day and Pokémon Presents, many of us are hoping for some big announcements and reveals to happen. It’s not every day that a franchise turns the big three-zero.
Now, I’m usually very wrong when it comes to predictions and things I’d love to see shared and revealed during presentations like the upcoming Pokémon Presents presentation. However, despite that, I wanted to share a few things I’d love to see for this very special Pokémon Day!
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Release
This was something I was more curious about than anything after stumbling across a few rumours online over the past week or so prior to the official reveal.
Now, of course, Nintendo has confirmed that these very games, which originally released in 2004, are making their way to the Nintendo Switch on Pokémon Day. I’m excited, as Kanto and the Generation 1 games hold a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to play the games I adored growing up again. I still remember going to my local Toys R Us to pick up my copy of LeafGreen for the Game Boy Advance not long after it released.
As I digress, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen launch on 27th February 2026 and cost £16.99 in the UK. Both versions of the games are available in multiple languages, too!
Hopeful for Generation 10
There has been so much speculation over if and when Generation 10 of Pokémon is coming over the past few months. With various as yet unconfirmed leaks from a well-known source of leaks, there’s certainly been a lot of talk. Now, I pay no attention to these information leaks and would much rather be surprised when reveals happen.
It has been nearly four years since the last mainline Pokémon game was revealed and released, so it feels natural for a new one to come this year, especially with the milestone the franchise is hitting.
There are many things I’d love to see; however, at the same time, I also don’t know what I’d want to see. I also don’t want to build my expectations too high in advance. I do feel that for the most part I would just be happy knowing a new mainline Pokémon game is on the way with new Pokémon, a new story and new places to explore and, ultimately, a game that has plenty to do and see both pre- and post-game.
Return to Johto.
While my journey started with Generation 1 and is still one of my favourites, Johto and Generation 2, especially the games, truly have my heart. The nostalgia, the memories, being able to explore Kanto and Johto, the variety of Pokémon, the stories and everything in between were just perfect.
Although we’ve seen Pokémon Silver and Gold have 3DS ports as well as the HeartGold and SoulSilver versions, it has been a while since we’ve seen any sign of a new reimagined version or port of the games. Especially anything from this era heading to the Nintendo Switch. There was a rumour at one point that we could see a Let’s Go game taking place in Johto, which would have been interesting to see, but there is still nothing yet. I remain hopeful, though.
Maybe with the new release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen hitting the Nintendo Switch imminently, even if we don’t get any hint of it during the Pokémon Presents, maybe in the future instead? I can dream, right?
General Pokemon Day Thoughts
Of course, there is more than just the Nintendo era of games to think about. There are the mobile games, the movies and television shows, the trading card game, and so many other platforms and forms of merchandise out there. We know that gamewise, Pokémon Champions is due to release this year, so hopefully we’ll see an update during the presentation. I’m guessing updates for Pokémon Cafe Mix, Pokémon GO! and Pokémon Unite too.
In a way, I’d like to see maybe a re-release of the first three movies or even the first series of the Pokémon television show that you can buy physically or digitally to commemorate the 30th anniversary. Maybe even a special showing of Pokémon the First Movie in the cinema?
There have already been some reveals of upcoming Pokémon Trading Card sets, including the First Partner boxes with the special illustration cards and the upcoming Perfect Order set that I believe is due out in March. This is alongside the already released Pokémon Day celebration box set. I’d be interested to see if there are any celebratory sets like we’ve seen in the past outside of the First Partner sets, similar to the likes of the Generations sets we saw for the twentieth anniversary.
I am curious, like many, to see what surprises they have in store for Pokémon fans. There are so many possibilities and just so much to be excited for this year. It’s not every day that a franchise so many of us grew up with turns thirty. To have seen it grow to what it is today is something amazing, and I hope that it continues to grow and expand for more years to come!
What’s Your Favourite?
One of the promotions that Pokémon has already kickstarted is the ‘What’s Your Favourite?’ campaign.
Featuring an array of notable people, including Jisoo from BLACKPINK, Lady Gaga and Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc. The campaign ultimately aims to bring Pokémon fans together and share their favourite Pokémon. This is also alongside the addition of the Day Out and Night Out events for which we are waiting on more information.
Although we still don’t know much about the event currently, it’s nice to see such an array of notable people getting involved and sharing their favourite Pokémon.
Pokémon Presents: Where to Watch?
The upcoming Pokémon Presents livestream is being shown on YouTube on Friday, 27th February 2026. The stream is to go live at 2pm UK/6am PST with a replay available after the stream itself has finished.
For the most part and personally, I’m just happy with whatever announcements and reveals we get for this Pokémon Day. It’s hard to not build your hopes up too much ahead of the livestream, but I honestly can’t wait to catch up on the livestream this Friday!
However, the celebrations don’t stop there, as I’m sure there will be plenty more surprises and news from the Pokémon Company throughout the rest of the year to help celebrate Pokémon’s birthday!
What are you hoping to see at this coming Pokémon Day’s celebrations? Are you planning on picking up the Nintendo Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen? Let me know in the comments!
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