Games

Pokémon Winds and Waves Directors Reportedly Leaked as Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Switch Ports Are Rumored

1 September 2026
9 min.
WhatsAppMessengerLinkedInRedditPinterestBufferSMS
Pokémon Winds and Waves Directors Reportedly Leaked as Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Switch Ports Are Rumored

Summary:

Two notable Pokémon reports are making the rounds, bringing potential news for both the future of the mainline series and some of its most beloved Game Boy Advance adventures. Pokémon Winds and Waves, the upcoming Generation 10 entry associated with Nintendo Switch 2, is reportedly being directed by Hiroyuki Tani alongside co-director Katsuhiko Ichiraku. Tani previously directed the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, while Ichiraku was involved in directing Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC. If accurate, their appointment would represent an interesting leadership change after Shigeru Ohmori directed several of the franchise’s recent mainline generations.

Meanwhile, another rumor claims Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald could arrive on Nintendo Switch during 2026, with late September or October currently mentioned as a potential release window. The suggestion is that the Game Boy Advance titles could receive standalone Nintendo eShop releases similar to Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, which returned on February 27, 2026. That makes the idea believable, but certainly not confirmed. The Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald claim comes from Shpeshal Nick, whose record includes both accurate and inaccurate gaming rumors. Until Nintendo or The Pokémon Company makes an announcement, the Hoenn trio should therefore remain firmly in the rumor category.

Pokémon Winds and Waves Reportedly Has New Directors Leading Generation 10

Pokémon Winds and Waves could mark more than the beginning of a fresh generation of Pokémon. According to information circulating from Pokémon leakers, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 project is being led by Hiroyuki Tani, with Katsuhiko Ichiraku reportedly serving alongside him as co-director. Neither The Pokémon Company nor Game Freak has formally announced this particular leadership structure, so the information should still be treated as leak-based rather than official. Even so, the reported pairing is interesting because both developers already have substantial experience with recent Pokémon projects. Rather than handing the next generation to people unfamiliar with the series, Game Freak would seemingly be promoting developers who have already helped shape some of its largest modern expansions. That could give Winds and Waves a recognizable foundation while still allowing its leadership to approach Generation 10 from a different angle.

Hiroyuki Tani Could Bring His Sword and Shield DLC Experience to the Next Generation

Hiroyuki Tani is particularly notable because of his previous work directing the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra took the Galar adventures beyond their original boundaries with additional locations, characters, Pokémon and systems, effectively testing ideas that became increasingly important to the franchise’s later releases. Having someone with that experience directing a full new generation could therefore be significant. Expansion development requires balancing established mechanics with fresh ideas without making the additions feel detached from the original game. Winds and Waves will naturally be a far larger undertaking, but the underlying challenge is somewhat similar. Game Freak needs to preserve the unmistakable identity of Pokémon while finding meaningful ways to move forward. If Tani is indeed leading Generation 10, his promotion may suggest that Game Freak was pleased with his approach to expanding Sword and Shield’s world and gameplay.

Katsuhiko Ichiraku Adds Experience From The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero

Katsuhiko Ichiraku brings another recent piece of Pokémon experience to the reported directing team. Ichiraku was one of the directors involved with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s expansion, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. That DLC was split across The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, taking players beyond Paldea while expanding the stories, characters and environments surrounding the Generation 9 games. His involvement is especially relevant because Generation 10 will follow directly after the Scarlet and Violet period of the franchise. Game Freak will have had plenty of lessons to draw from those games, including ideas that worked well and areas where fans wanted further refinement. A co-director who has already worked closely with Scarlet and Violet’s underlying systems would carry valuable practical knowledge into whatever comes next. It doesn’t tell us what Winds and Waves will actually play like, but it would create continuity behind the scenes even as leadership roles change.

The Reported Leadership Change Would Break With Shigeru Ohmori’s Recent Mainline Role

The biggest reason this report stands out is the potential change from Shigeru Ohmori, one of the defining directors of modern mainline Pokémon. Ohmori directed Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire before taking the director’s chair for Pokémon Sun and Moon, Sword and Shield, and Scarlet and Violet. His influence has therefore stretched across several generations and multiple hardware eras. Moving Generation 10 to Tani and Ichiraku would signal a meaningful transition for Game Freak, although it should not automatically be interpreted as Ohmori leaving Pokémon development altogether. Large game studios regularly shift experienced creators between directing, producing and supervisory responsibilities. Until official credits or statements become available, his precise involvement with Winds and Waves remains unknown. Still, a new directing team would inevitably attract attention because Generation 10 represents an important milestone for Pokémon and its transition deeper into the Nintendo Switch 2 era.

The Director Information Is Said to Be Connected to the Wider Pokémon Teraleak

Adding another wrinkle to the story is the reported connection between these director details and the enormous collection of leaked Pokémon development information often referred to as the Teraleak. Material associated with that leak has circulated for a considerable period and has included references to projects before their official announcements. Pokémon Winds and Waves itself was discussed through leaked information before its public reveal, giving fans understandable reasons to pay attention whenever purported internal material surfaces. However, leaked information needs to be handled carefully. A genuine collection of internal files can sit alongside interpretations, secondhand claims and material whose context isn’t immediately obvious. Something originating from authentic data does not automatically mean every conclusion drawn from it is correct. For that reason, the reported Tani and Ichiraku leadership arrangement is more persuasive than a completely isolated social media rumor, but it still shouldn’t be presented as an official Game Freak announcement until the companies involved confirm it themselves.

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Are Rumored for Nintendo Switch in 2026

The second major Pokémon rumor looks backward rather than forward. Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald are reportedly being prepared for Nintendo Switch, potentially bringing the original Game Boy Advance Hoenn adventures to Nintendo’s current hardware. For longtime fans, that’s an enticing prospect. Ruby and Sapphire introduced players to Hoenn, double battles, abilities, weather-focused mechanics and a huge collection of new Pokémon, while Emerald later combined and expanded ideas from both games. The titles remain an important part of Pokémon history more than two decades after their original releases. Their arrival on Switch would also address a long-running frustration surrounding access to older Pokémon generations on modern platforms. There is one major catch, though: Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have not announced these releases. For now, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald returning to Switch is a rumor, regardless of how naturally the idea fits with Pokémon’s recent rerelease strategy.

Late September or October Is Currently Mentioned as the Possible Release Window

The circulating claim specifically points toward late September or October 2026 for the rumored ports. Shpeshal Nick has stated that the three games are currently planned for that general period, giving the rumor a more specific timeframe than the usual vague suggestion that something might happen before the end of the year. Specificity can make a leak sound convincing, but it doesn’t turn it into a confirmed release schedule. Plans can change internally, and information passed through several people can easily lose context along the way. That’s particularly relevant here because Shpeshal Nick has shared accurate information in the past but has also made claims that did not ultimately prove correct. September or October should therefore be viewed as the timeframe being alleged, not a date players should circle on their calendars in permanent marker. If the games are genuinely coming, an official announcement from Nintendo or The Pokémon Company will provide the certainty that the current rumor cannot.

FireRed and LeafGreen Give Nintendo a Recent Blueprint for Classic Pokémon Releases

There is at least one solid reason why the Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald rumor doesn’t feel completely out of left field. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company recently brought Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen to Nintendo Switch as standalone releases through the Nintendo eShop. The two Game Boy Advance classics launched on February 27, 2026 as part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations. They weren’t simply dropped into the standard Game Boy Advance Nintendo Switch Online library. Instead, they were offered as separate products, providing a clear modern release model that could theoretically be repeated for other classic Pokémon adventures. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald would be obvious candidates if that strategy continues. All three originate from the same hardware generation as FireRed and LeafGreen, and Hoenn remains enormously popular. That’s evidence that such releases are technically and commercially plausible, but it is important to separate plausibility from confirmation. FireRed and LeafGreen’s existence doesn’t prove another trio is already scheduled.

Why the Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Rumor Still Needs Plenty of Caution

This is where a little restraint goes a long way. Pokémon rumors have a habit of spreading incredibly quickly, especially when they involve games that fans have spent years asking Nintendo to bring back. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald tick nearly every box required to ignite that excitement. They’re nostalgic, difficult to obtain digitally through modern official channels, closely connected to the recently rereleased FireRed and LeafGreen, and still deeply loved. That combination makes the rumor easy to believe before evidence has caught up with enthusiasm. The original claim is attributed to Shpeshal Nick, a gaming insider whose history contains successful tips as well as misses. That’s enough to make the report worth discussing, but not enough to treat three Nintendo eShop listings as inevitable. Until Nintendo, The Pokémon Company or an official storefront produces concrete information, players should consider the possible September or October launch an interesting lead rather than a settled release plan.

What Pokémon Fans Should Watch for Before Treating Either Report as Confirmed

Both stories now have straightforward paths toward verification. Winds and Waves will eventually receive more official development information, trailers, promotional materials and credits, any of which could establish exactly who is directing Generation 10. Game Freak or The Pokémon Company could also discuss the development team directly as promotion intensifies. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald are even simpler. If those releases really are planned for late September or October, Nintendo would eventually need to announce them or place them on the Nintendo eShop. The precedent established by FireRed and LeafGreen means fans now know what that kind of rerelease can look like. Until those signals appear, the safest distinction is clear: the reported Winds and Waves directing arrangement comes from leak-related information that has not been officially confirmed, while the Hoenn rereleases currently rest on an insider rumor. Both could turn out to be correct, but neither should leapfrog Nintendo’s own announcements.

Conclusion

Pokémon fans suddenly have two very different rumors to keep an eye on. One could reveal who is steering the franchise into Generation 10, with Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku reportedly taking the directing roles on Pokémon Winds and Waves. Their backgrounds with the Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet expansions would make them logical choices, while a move away from Shigeru Ohmori as main director would represent a notable shift for the series. The other rumor could send players back to Hoenn, with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald reportedly targeting Nintendo Switch for late September or October 2026. FireRed and LeafGreen’s standalone eShop releases make that prospect easier to imagine than it might have been a year ago. Still, imagination isn’t confirmation. Until official announcements arrive, both stories belong in the fascinating but unpredictable world of Pokémon leaks and rumors. For now, they’re certainly worth watching, just not worth treating as guaranteed.

FAQs
  • Who is reportedly directing Pokémon Winds and Waves?
    • Hiroyuki Tani is reportedly directing Pokémon Winds and Waves, with Katsuhiko Ichiraku said to be serving as co-director. The leadership arrangement has been reported through leak-related sources and has not been formally announced by The Pokémon Company or Game Freak.
  • What Pokémon games has Hiroyuki Tani previously worked on?
    • Tani previously directed the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, which included The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. That makes his reported move into a Generation 10 directing role particularly notable.
  • Are Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald confirmed for Nintendo Switch?
    • No. Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald are currently rumored for Nintendo Switch, but Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have not officially announced Switch versions of the three Hoenn games.
  • When could Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald release on Nintendo Switch?
    • The current rumor points to late September or October 2026. That timeframe comes from Shpeshal Nick and should be treated as unconfirmed until Nintendo or The Pokémon Company provides official release information.
  • Could Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald be released like FireRed and LeafGreen?
    • That is one possibility. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen were released as standalone Nintendo eShop titles for Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2026. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald could theoretically follow a similar model, although no such release strategy has been confirmed for them.
Sources
WhatsAppMessengerLinkedInRedditPinterestBufferSMS