Pokemon‘s development cycle has been predictable for years, and with the upcoming release of Pokemon Winds and Waves, it is changing forever. At the very least, depending on the ultimate reception to Pokemon Winds and Waves, it’s unlikely Game Freak is going to be able to walk it back.
In the earliest years of Pokemon, the development cycle was a little more tumultuous—for lack of a better term. It was a brand new IP, it was a budding franchise, and it would grow incredibly fast, becoming one of the most popular intellectual properties in the entire world. But, very clearly around Gen 5 (and arguably sooner), Game Freak settled into a three-year release cycle that, on the one hand, would arguably limit some games. On the other hand, it became an ever-present mainstay in some fans’ lives.
Pokemon Winds and Waves’ Map Leaks Online
Basically Pokemon Winds and Waves’ entire region has leaked online, with fans piecing together new places in the Gen 10 region.
Pokemon’s Development Cycle (Based on North American Release Dates)
- Pokemon Red and Blue(Gen 1)—1998 (released a whole two years sooner in Japan)
- Pokemon Gold and Silver(Gen 2)—2000
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire(Gen 3)—2003
- Pokemon Diamond and Pearl(Gen 4)—2007
- Pokemon Black and White(Gen 5)—2010
- Pokemon X and Y(Gen 6)—2013
- Pokemon Sun and Moon(Gen 7)—2016
- Pokemon Sword and Shield (Gen 8)—2019
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet(Gen 9)—2022
- Pokemon Winds and Waves(Gen 10)—2027
Pokemon Black and White were released in 2010, three years after Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. And that three-year cycle would carry one through Gen 9: Pokemon X and Y were 3 years after Black and White, Pokemon Sun and Moon were 3 years after X and Y, and so on. However, with the all but officially confirmed release of Pokemon Winds and Waves in late 2027 (as opposed to general 2027), that represents the first time that five years have passed between mainline Pokemon games.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
To be fair, the pattern had become even more predictable over the years. Fans could, typically, semi-accurately predict when the new gen would begin, when a remake would be released, and when a spin-off would happen. The biggest surprises, at least in terms of new items, of the past few years were the introduction of the new Pokemon Legends mainline games and the fact that we haven’t gotten Pokemon Black and White remakes.
And of course, it’s worth noting that a release cadence of three years does not mean three years of development time—each game is worked on in stages, at different phases of development, with reports suggesting Pokemon Legends 3 being in full production and Pokemon Gen 11 being in pre-production as of this writing. This is to say, however, that three years has become something of an important marker for fans.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Some hope that the extended length between releases results in better and more polished Pokemon games, no doubt because of the criticism of the past few games. Sword and Shield were criticized for not taking advantage of the Switch and Dexit, for example, while Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s visuals were a huge controversy. Even Pokemon Legends: Z-A upset fans because of its budget and how that showed in the game. But, to play devil’s advocate, each game was there for fans, brought fans’ favorite new Pokemon, and entertained millions despite these flaws. Now, if 5 years becomes the norm (as game development has only become longer), then across the next 20 years, there will only be 4 new gens as opposed to ~7. Whether that actually results in better games remains to be seen, but the end of 3-years between releases is over.
