Pokemon Winds and Waves Have Bad News for Switch 1 Gamers

Pokemon Winds and Waves are releasing as Switch 2 exclusive games, with no plans for Switch 1 versions. Pokemon Winds and Waves were officially revealed during the latest Pokemon Presents event. The trailer confirmed that Pokemon Winds and Waves will be the most graphically-intensive Pokemon games to date, with vastly improved environments, character models, and performance compared to previous games in the series.

The Switch 1 is on its way to becoming the best-selling video game console of all time, and so its install base is absolutely gargantuan compared to the Switch 2. There are still millions of Switch 1 gamers that have yet to upgrade to the Switch 2, but unfortunately, those individuals will be missing out on Pokemon Winds and Waves.

Your Outfit in Pokemon Winds and Waves Depends on Which Version You Buy

In Pokemon Winds and Waves, the version you buy determines your trainer’s starting outfit, adding a stylish twist to version exclusives.

Are Pokemon Winds and Waves Coming to the Switch 1?

It’s been confirmed that there will not be a Switch 1 version of Pokemon Winds and Waves. Most Pokemon fans likely assumed this after seeing Pokemon Winds and Waves in action, but others may still be surprised or disappointed by this revelation. However, it’s clear that Nintendo is starting to leave the Switch 1 behind to focus on the more powerful Switch 2, and that will ultimately be a good thing when it comes to overall game quality — at least, in terms of graphical fidelity and performance.

The Pokemon franchise had a rough time on the Switch 1. Pokemon Sword and Shield are some of the lower-rated games in the franchise, with many criticizing those games for not pushing the series forward enough. And then there are Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which are the lowest-rated main series Pokemon games to date. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had all kinds of technical problems on the Switch 1, and part of that is likely due to the aging hardware.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is significantly more powerful than the Switch 1, which means that an experience like Pokemon Winds and Waves can launch without having to make unfortunate compromises like would be necessary if the games were also released for the Switch 1. Simply put, making Pokemon Winds and Waves cross-generation releases would have seriously held the games back and prevented them from reaching the full potential that they should able to reach as Switch 2 exclusive games.

Even though Nintendo is clearly starting to focus most of its attention on the Switch 2, it’s not completely done supporting the original Switch just yet. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is coming to the Switch 1, as is a new Rhythm Heaven game. However, the vast majority of upcoming Nintendo first-party games are aiming for the Switch 2.

Needless to say, it may be a good time for Pokemon fans to start thinking about upgrading to the Switch 2 if they haven’t already. There have been rumblings about potential Switch 2 price increases due to ongoing tariffs and other worldwide economic situations, so it’s entirely possible that the console will be more expensive by the time Pokemon Winds and Waves release in 2027.

Of course, Pokemon Winds and Waves aren’t the only reason to buy a Switch 2. Nintendo has released some incredible Switch 2 exclusives so far, with Donkey Kong Bananza even being nominated for Game of the Year last year. There will undoubtedly be new main series Super Mario and Zelda games on the Switch 2 in the future as well, so it’s a safe bet for any Nintendo fan, even with Pokemon Winds and Winds not coming until 2027.