Internal production schedules for the tenth generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, reportedly targeted a November 2026 release before a decision was made to delay the titles into the following year. While the Pokémon Company officially announced the games on February 27, 2026, with a planned 2027 release window, reports from community leakers suggest that a late 2026 launch was the working goal until a delay was decided in January 2026.
According to claims from the leaker CentroLeaks and an anime-focused source known as “Moot,” who are the primary sources for the 2026 delay claim, the decision to shift to 2027 was an adjustment to the production timeline.
Anime Extensions and the “Konetsu” Substitution
The reported delay has had a direct impact on the Pokémon Horizons animated series. Reports indicate the anime was originally scheduled to conclude its run at 136 episodes, but production has allegedly been extended to bridge the gap caused by the games’ rescheduling. This extension has reportedly forced creative changes to avoid spoiling Generation 10 content prematurely.
Specifically, production sources suggest that production changes in the anime included replacing a new Pokémon reportedly named “Konetsu” with a Ditto in recently aired episodes to avoid spoiling Generation 10 content ahead of the new release schedule.
Region and Starter Details
Despite the release window shift, details regarding the games have begun to surface. Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves were officially announced on February 27, 2026, with a planned release window of 2027. The official announcement introduced the aesthetic for the new titles, though it did not confirm specific gameplay mechanics.
The three starter Pokémon for the games have been identified as:
- Browt: The Grass-type starter.
- Pombon: The Fire-type starter.
- Gecqua: The Water-type starter.
The delay follows the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which launched on October 16, 2025. That title received a DLC expansion titled “Mega Dimension” in December 2025, which has provided a buffer for the franchise as it prepares for the transition to Generation 10.
