Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Datamine Suggests Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Could Be Coming to Switch

A recent Nintendo Switch datamine indicates that the third-generation Pokemon titles, Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Sapphire, and Pokemon Emerald, may be heading to the Nintendo Switch. Since its inception in 1996, Pokemon has been a cultural phenomenon for Nintendo and is estimated to be the world’s highest-grossing media franchise. Even amid concerns about the technical performance of some recent Pokemon games, the brand remains a commercial powerhouse and one of the most in-demand franchises in gaming.

As the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have taken to celebrating in a variety of ways, starting with the re-releases of Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch. Initially released in 2004 as remakes of the original Pokemon titles, the Switch re-releases let fans explore the original Kanto region on a modern platform. The Pokemon Company is also gearing up for the next generation of the franchise, with the recently announced Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

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Datamine Indicates Pokemon Gen 3 Titles May Come to Switch Next

As reported by Bluesky user Yakumono (further verified by Twitter user Centro Leaks), a recent datamine indicates that Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Sapphire, and Pokemon Emerald may come to the Switch in the future. Yakumono points out that the newly released versions of Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen are still using Sloop, the emulator Nintendo currently uses for Game Boy Advance titles on Nintendo Switch Online. They note that the ROMs have been extensively rebuilt and appear to include notable code changes and emulator hacks.

Yakumono did not go much deeper into the emulation details, but did point out that the Sloop emulator will specifically recognize ROMs of Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald just as it recognizes ROMs of FireRed and LeafGreen. This was found alongside the initialization code that enables emulator hacks for different titles. Considering the emulator’s capabilities of running third-generation Pokemon games, this indicates that Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald may join FireRed and LeafGreen on the Switch in the near future.

A double battle against a Wild Seedot and Lotad - Pokemon Emerald

Rumors about the return of Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald should be taken with a grain of salt, as Yakumono’s point merely indicates that the Sloop emulator is capable of recognizing such games. Still, a re-release of the third-generation Pokemon games would be a fantastic way for new fans to experience the Hoenn region on a new platform. Pokemon titles have rarely been reissued on modern platforms, and FireRed and LeafGreen’s re-release could merely be the tip of the iceberg to getting more Pokemon games on the Switch and Switch 2.

It remains to be seen whether future Pokemon re-releases will arrive on Nintendo Switch Online or be available as standalone purchases like FireRed and LeafGreen. Furthermore, given that Nintendo chose FireRed and LeafGreen over the original Game Boy titles to offer players “the ultimate versions of those original adventures,” it’s worth pondering if Nintendo will inevitably re-release some of the Nintendo DS Pokemon titles, even though Nintendo DS games are not currently available on Nintendo Switch Online. No matter the choice, here’s hoping the Switch and Switch 2 can continue to become all-in-one Pokemon powerhouses with more re-releases in the future.