Pokemon Pokopia has already achieved something Nintendo now expects from Pokemon Winds and Waves: convincing people to buy a Nintendo Switch 2. During Nintendo’s November 2026 financial-results briefing, company president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that the cozy Pokemon spin-off had been a major driver of hardware sales. Furukawa also described the upcoming mainline Pokemon games as a crucial release for the console as it enters its third year on the market.
That’s an impressive accomplishment for a game that takes such a different approach to the usual formula. Rather than focusing on becoming a Pokemon Champion, Pokemon Pokopia gives players a world to rebuild alongside their favorite creatures—likely inspired by the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Its success has demonstrated that an unconventional Pokemon experience can help sell Nintendo’s newest console. With Pokemon Winds and Waves scheduled for 2027, the next generation of Pokemon games now has a high standard to meet.
Pokemon Pokopia Has Already Proven It Can Sell Switch 2 Consoles
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Image via Pokemon -
Source: The Pokemon Company -
via Nintendo
When Pokemon Pokopia launched exclusively for Switch 2 on March 5, 2026, it represented a bold departure for the franchise. Players take control of a Ditto that has transformed into a human, restoring a neglected world by creating habitats and building homes for Pokemon. It’s a much more relaxed experience than the traditional Pokemon RPGs, with its appeal coming from watching a once-empty environment gradually become populated. That approach clearly resonated with players. Pokemon Pokopia sold more than 2.2 million copies worldwide in its first four days, surpassed 4 million in five weeks, and reached over 5 million within its first four months. Those are impressive numbers for a spin-off that offers such a departure from the mainline series, especially considering it was released exclusively for a console that had been available for less than a year.
Guess the games from the emojis.
The more interesting part of Pokemon Pokopia’s success, however, is what Nintendo has said about its impact on hardware sales. During the company’s May 2026 financial briefing, Furukawa credited the game with driving Switch 2 purchases and expressed hope that it would become an evergreen title with a long sales life. His November 2026 comments reinforced that assessment, confirming that Pokemon Pokopia had helped sustain the console’s sales momentum. That’s the most remarkable part of the whole situation. A Pokemon game built around taking things slowly has become an important part of Nintendo’s efforts to move players onto its newest hardware.
A Pokemon game built around taking things slowly has become an important part of Nintendo’s efforts to move players onto its newest hardware.
Pokemon Winds and Waves face greater expectations as the next mainline entries in one of gaming’s most successful franchises. Their 2027 release will take players into a new open-world setting featuring windswept islands and a vast ocean, offering a different environment from previous Pokemon adventures. The initial announcement has already given fans a glimpse of the new region, along with its starter Pokemon, setting the stage for another major evolution of the series. As Switch 2 exclusives, both games also have the responsibility of demonstrating what Pokemon can accomplish on Nintendo’s newer hardware. For players still using the original Switch, the new generation represents one of the strongest reasons to finally upgrade.
As of September 30, 2026, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had sold 28.66 million copies worldwide, while Pokemon Sword and Shield had reached 27.36 million. Those figures comfortably exceed Pokopia’s reported sales, but the upcoming games face a different challenge. Both previous generations launched on the original Switch, whereas Winds and Waves will arrive when Nintendo is trying to encourage more existing Switch owners to make the transition. The console’s September 2026 price increase adds another obstacle, with its US retail price rising from $449.99 to $499.99. At that price, convincing someone to purchase new hardware requires an especially appealing game. Pokemon Winds and Waves have the advantage of being long-awaited mainline entries, but they’ll need to make the upgrade feel worthwhile.
Pokemon Winds and Waves Need to Build on Pokopia’s Success
Pokemon Winds and Waves don’t need to borrow Pokopia’s gameplay to match its impact. The two experiences appeal to different interests, and there is already a substantial audience waiting for another traditional Pokemon adventure. What they can take from Pokopia, though, is the importance of offering an experience that justifies purchasing new hardware. For Winds and Waves, that means delivering a memorable new region and making the most of Switch 2’s capabilities. The tropical environments revealed so far provide a strong foundation, but the games’ real test will be how effectively they build upon the Pokemon formula.
With the original Switch having already hosted two enormously successful mainline Pokemon generations, the next pair now has the responsibility of persuading those players that the franchise’s future is worth investing in. Pokemon Pokopia has already demonstrated the influence a Switch 2-exclusive Pokemon game can have on hardware adoption, despite abandoning many of the mechanics that made the franchise famous. Winds and Waves are arriving with a much larger established audience and the weight of an entirely new generation behind them. Their success will be measured in software sales, but their ability to convince more players to leave the original Switch behind is what will make them especially valuable to Nintendo.
- Released
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2027
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
