Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Are Getting an Incredible Special Edition, But With an Asterisk Attached

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are each getting a special edition for their newly announced re-release, Nintendo has revealed. The luxury package will include several head-turning Pokemon collector’s items, but it is not a true physical release, and it also comes with a big catch in that it will be available only in Japan.

February 27 will mark the 30th anniversary of Pokemon. Ahead of this year’s Pokemon Day, Nintendo has announced the much-requested Switch re-release of the original two entries in the franchise, officially called Pokemon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version. Both are scheduled for digital release on February 27.

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Japan-Only Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Special Editions Revealed

Separately, The Pokemon Company’s Japanese branch has now revealed a new Special Edition of both FireRed and LeafGreen, each sold as a boxed set. Despite the physical packaging, the editions do not include a game cartridge and instead come with an eShop download code. The only distinction between the two is the version of the game provided. The company is now accepting pre-orders for both the Pokemon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version Special Editions, priced at ¥19,800 each, or about $127 based on February 20 exchange rates.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

The headline extras of the newly announced package are physical replicas of the original Game Boy Advance-era Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen boxes, plus a set of glass “Monster Ball” display orbs featuring the three starter Pokemon from the Kanto region: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. The set is designed to be displayed together in an included case, with the bases lighting up in colors meant to evoke each Pokemon’s type. While the official product description doesn’t go into a lot of details, it suggests the base only lights up after all three balls are inserted into their slots.

The Pokemon Company has not said how many units of the special editions it plans to produce. As the products are not formally advertised as limited editions, production could continue as long as demand persists. The company’s Japanese website also states that while pre-orders are available online only, both versions “may be sold at Pokemon Center locations at a later date,” according to a machine translation of the listing.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions Special Edition Contents

Pokemon FireRed Version or LeafGreen Version download code
A physical replica of the original GBA box design
- no actual GBA cartridge or manual included
Glass Monster Ball ornament set featuring the three Kanto starters laser-etched inside
Special display case with:
- 30th anniversary logo and decorative embossing/foil stamping
  - including Charizard and Venusaur on the case
- Stand and acrylic plate for displaying the three glass Monster Balls
- Lighting feature to illuminate each ball in colors representing their types

There is currently no indication that the special editions of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will be released outside Japan. The Pokemon Company’s recent track record suggests that if an international release was on the cards, it would have been announced alongside the Japanese one. Some Western collectors have said on social media that they plan to order the products through proxy services that ship Japan-exclusive items internationally. Even for importers, availability can be complicated by region-specific storefront policies and limited supply, making it the kind of release that can sell out quickly and inflate on resale markets.

The regular Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen re-releases will be priced at $19.99 each. They will support trading and battling via the in-game Pokemon Wireless Club at Pokemon Centers, though the feature will work only between two Switch or Switch 2 consoles connected locally, with no online functionality. More Pokemon news is expected on February 27, when Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are rumored to announce the long-awaited Generation 10 games.