21 February 2026

Nintendo Has a Really Weird Explanation for Why Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Aren’t Coming to Switch Online

By newsgame

Nintendo stated that two upcoming Pokemon ports, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, will not be on the Nintendo Switch Online service simply because the company thought “it would be fun” to re-release these titles as special games for the franchise’s 30th anniversary. Nintendo clarified that it is still committed to releasing games on NSO, and listed other Pokemon titles, including Pokemon Snap, that are currently available.

On February 20, The Pokemon Company surprised fans with the reveal of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Nintendo Switch as part of Pokemon’s 30th Anniversary festivities. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen were originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2005 as remakes of the original Pokemon Red and Green games. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen brought game mechanics from the third mainline Pokemon generation to the Kanto region, and were the first GBA titles to make use of the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Switch will be released on February 27.

Pokemon FireRed LeafGreen versions covers with Pikachu composite

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Are Getting an Incredible Special Edition, But With an Asterisk Attached

Nintendo reveals special editions of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions for the Switch, which pack some stellar goodies but come with a big catch.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Are Special Cases

With pre-orders for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen now underway ahead of the games’ Pokemon Day launch, Nintendo answered some questions that players had. According to Nintendo’s FAQ post on Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, the two titles were not released on the Nintendo Switch Online service since they are being treated as special entries for Pokemon‘s 30th anniversary. Nintendo said, “In celebration of 30 years of Pokemon, we thought it would be fun to return to the ultimate versions of the original Pokemon adventures in the Kanto region with these special releases.”

The Switch ports of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will also have a few caveats for players to consider, as online play will not be part of the games, though trading and battling will still be possible via Local Wireless connectivity. When played on a Switch 2, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will support GameChat. Nintendo followed up by stating it was still committed to bringing more games to Nintendo Switch Online, but did not have any information to share about future Pokemon titles. Nintendo listed some of the games that are currently available for NSO subscribers to play, including Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Stadium for the N64.

Two future Pokemon games that have been confirmed to arrive on NSO at undetermined dates are Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness. Both titles will launch on the GameCube app in the future. Although future Pokemon Home compatibility was initially listed on the Nintendo eShop listings for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, Nintendo has since removed any mention of the service from those pages. Ergo, the status of Pokemon Home compatibility for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is currently unclear.

February 27 Will Be a Big Day for Pokemon Fans

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The Switch launch of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will not be the only thing happening on Pokemon Day this year. A Pokemon Presents broadcast will air on Friday, February 27, at 9:00 AM Eastern, on the official Pokemon YouTube and Twitch channels. The presentation will last approximately 25 minutes, though no other details about the show were made known. However, viewers can expect news about various Pokemon games and products throughout the broadcast, including the Pokemon Trading Card Game, and ongoing mobile titles like Pokemon GO and Pokemon Unite.

However, all eyes will be on a potential reveal during the upcoming Pokemon Presents. Pokemon Gen 10, currently titled Pokemon Wind and Wave by fans on social media, is speculated to appear during the show in some capacity. Given that Pokemon has revealed new games during past Pokemon Presents events, including Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in 2022, it stands to reason that the next game generation could follow suit. Time will tell what surprises Pokemon has planned for the franchise’s 30th anniversary.