Pokemon leak reveals Gen 10 game may be Switch-Switch 2 cross-gen

A massive leak of data from Pokémon developer Game Freak, widely distributed online as a result of a company hack, has revealed new details about the past and future of the franchise’s games, animated series and action projects live This includes unconfirmed information about the next generation of Pokemon, also known as Gen 10, and an apparently codenamed new Pokemon game. Gaia.

As part of the hack, few details about the upcoming main Pokemon game have been leaked. We don’t know where the next entry will be set, what Pokémon are confirmed to appear, or what new mechanics might be introduced.

But the next-gen Pokemon game may have at least one twist: It’s supposedly a cross-generational game, and will reportedly be available for both the original Nintendo Switch and its as-yet-unannounced successor, the “Switch 2” .

A cross-generational release, while certainly not new for Pokemon publisher Nintendo, would be a rarity for the monster-collecting RPG series. Pokémon games are usually designed for specific generations of Nintendo hardware, although backwards compatibility between generations of Nintendo handhelds and consoles means they can be played on multiple systems. The Pokemon Company and Nintendo may be taking a slightly different approach this time around, taking advantage of the Switch’s massive user base while giving Switch 2 owners a new Pokemon game to enjoy, rather than waiting for a game made for Nintendo’s next generation system.

Gaia it can address the problem of delivering a new Pokemon game to a built-in audience and catering to Switch 2 early adopters, and it can also address a common complaint leveled against developer Game Freak’s existing Switch game: its poor performance. The Switch 2 is reported to be more powerful than the existing seven-year-old Switch, and Gaia it would possibly work better on new hardware. An upgrade to the visuals would certainly be a compelling reason to upgrade to the Switch 2.

While Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have not confirmed any details about the Game Freak hack, outside of some employee information that has been exposed, it appears that a leaker from Nintendo has been corroborated by a leak about a Gen 10 Pokémon between generations Polygon has reached out to The Pokémon Company for comment and will update when the company responds.