It’s one week away from Pokémon Day, but fans are already in for a treat. 22 years after its initial launch on the Game Boy Advance, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are making their way to the Nintendo Switch as download-only titles.
The classic remakes of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green will be available for purchase on the Nintendo eShop after the conclusion of the Pokémon Presents showcase, beginning 27 February at 6am PST / 10pm SGT (GMT+8). Alongside updated visuals, players can look forward to trading Pokémon, battling each other, and more using local communication just like before. Online multiplayer won’t be supported, and according to an FAQ published by Nintendo, the content will largely be “the same as in the games’ original release,” including the Sevii Islands, accessible only after defeating the Elite Four and Champion.
Both titles are listed at US$19.99 with a 40MB download size, while Pokémon Home support, which allows caught critters to be transferred to the storage service, is expected at a later date. Since they remain unchanged from the original experience, fans should note that there will be no in-game language settings; instead, each language is sold as its own edition. In the U.S., three options are available: English, European French, and European Spanish.
Released in 2004, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are part of the Generation III lineup (alongside Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and their enhanced edition, Pokémon Emerald), and were the first in the franchise to be enhanced remakes of previous titles. The bundle was a commercial success, selling a total of 12 million copies worldwide.
The remakes are now open for pre-order on the Nintendo eShop, with their official launch scheduled for 27 February. Following that, Pokémon Pokopia will step away from the battling tradition and introduce an idyllic, cosy adventure on 5 March.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
