A new update basically confirms that Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, and possibly Pokemon Emerald, are coming to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise, and The Pokemon Company has so far released multiple games, in-game events, and physical products to celebrate with fans. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are a great example of this, as they were re-released as ports on the Switch and Switch 2 on Pokemon Day 2026. Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire have long been rumored to also launch as Switch ports, and a new update is further confirmation of this.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen‘s National Pokedex can be completed only with access to Gen 3 games, as it includes all critters from Kanto to Hoenn. In the original titles, this was easily doable by trading with other GBA games, such as Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. This is not the case for the Switch, as there is no compatibility between modern consoles and the Game Boy Advance. Still, Gen 3 games were datamined and leaked to be coming to the Switch months ago, and now there’s yet another hint.
New Pokemon Home Update Adds Free Celebi, Ruby and Sapphire Support
With a new Pokemon Home update, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players can get a free Celebi as of October 7, and all it takes is to complete the Kanto Pokedex minus Mew. Interestingly, Pokemon Home now has a section for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen called “GBA games,” which begs the question of why use this specific name if FRLG were the only option. With a dedicated GBA games section, combined with the datamined information about Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire coming to Switch and Switch 2, and the fact that the National Pokedex requires trading with the OG Gen 3 games, this is further proof that these games are indeed getting ports.
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Not only that, but the official Japanese Pokemon account also recently shared a clip of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire on the Nintendo Switch or a similar emulator. The clip showcases HD graphics and brighter colors that make the games look very different from their GBA counterparts. On top of that, the clip lasts exactly 30 seconds, which is the standard recording time for screen capture on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The new Pokemon Home update also increases the storage space from 6,000 to 9,000 for premium accounts, so releasing the Gen 3 ports shortly would make even more sense.
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A previous leak stated that Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire will be released in October 2026 as Switch and Switch 2 ports. All this is happening in the month of October, which lends further credence to the claim. Should Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire go unreleased and unannounced for the Switch, the ports could still be released further down the line, maybe on Pokemon Day 2027.
In fact, Pokemon Winds and Waves will launch in late 2027 according to leaks, with the next trailer allegedly being shown on Pokemon Day next year. In this case, it would make sense to hold onto Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire ports for longer, but it’s now a matter of when rather than if they will launch.
