Apart from reported name censorship, another update to the Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen has been spotted much later in the returning adventures.
As highlighted by Pokémon fansite Serebii.net, when you beat the Elite Four and enter the Hall of Fame in the Switch versions, you’ll receive the Mystic Ticket and Aurora Ticket. You can find them in your bag.
“Serebii Update: It is confirmed that you get the Mystic Ticket and Aurora Ticket in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen after entering the Hall of Fame on Nintendo Switch”
This is great news for trainers, as these items were previously only available via Mystery Gifts distributions at “real life” events – so every trainer can now catch Ho-Oh and Lugia, as well as the mythical Pokémon Deoxys.
If we find out about any other significant changes or updates to these releases on the Switch, we’ll let you know.
What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.
One of the joys for many trainers during the earlier generations of Pokémon was giving the main character and their rival a rude or downright inappropriate name. In the Switch eShop versions of Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen, it seems there have been some updates to this.
As reported by Kotaku, you’ll either have to get really creative now, or there’s a good chance the game will override whatever you’ve input and instead give you a generic name. Here’s a sample of some of the words that won’t fly:
“Kotaku has verified that some words, such as “d**k,” “p***y,” “s**t,” and even the f-slur are replaced by names like “Gary” or “Janne.” This doesn’t seem to extend to some milder words, however, as “hell” and “damn” were not replaced.”
This update appears to impact Pokémon names as well. One obvious theory suggests the update is to prevent users from flooding social media with screenshots and footage containing offensive language. This also wouldn’t be the best look, as Pokémon is meant to be a family-friendly experience for all ages.
As many trainers have highlighted, this confirms these classic Game Boy Advance releases have actually been edited for this special release. There have also been some other updates…
What are your thoughts about this? Let us know in the comments.
If you’ve had your eye on a Switch 2 Pro Controller but haven’t yet pulled the trigger (they’re not cheap, granted), you’ve probably also had your eyes on the new Resident Evil-themed one.
Well, Nintendo kindly sent one over to Nintendo Life Towers and we can confirm that it is indeed a Switch 2 Pro Controller — a pad we absolutely love — now with some pleasantly subtle RE-detailing. What’s not to like?
Back in the day, sure, we were all about the gorily OTT RE chainsaw controller for GameCube, but two decades on? We’re a little more sophisticated than we used to be, perhaps. We don’t need blood splatter over every prong of our pad, and this new one could sit on the side quite comfortably without alarming pets or family members.
Let’s take a closer look at those little details, courtesy of our lovely video chap Alex, shall we? First, some close-ups, then a handful of moody shots that may well have been snapped in a Raccoon City warehouse! Or possibly Alex’s garage:
Tasty, no? Itchy, right?…
If you’re interested in seeing how it compares to the regular Pro Controller colour-wise (it is a little different), check out Alex’s short below, and our review of the non-Evil version.
Let us know below if you’ve picked up one of these pads.
We’ve got at least a year until Pokémon Winds & Waves comes to Switch 2’s shores, but we’re already thinking about the game’s first big question — which starter will you pick? And, we’ve got to be honest, Generation 10 put a particularly tough choice in front of us.
We’ve met the tempting trio already — the Grass starter, Browt; the Fire starter Pombon, and the Water starter Gecqua — but let’s get to know them a little bit more before we ask you lovely readers who your early favourite is.
Browt, the Bean Chick Pokémon
Image: The Pokémon Company
“This Pokémon runs about energetically while photosynthesizing using the leaves on its brow. It’s lively, but it can also be a bit clumsy.”
Type: Grass
Height: 1′ (0.3 m)
Weight: 7.7 lbs. (3.5 kg)
Ability: Overgrow
Well, look at this little fella! Our second Grass-type bird starter (following Rowlet from Sun & Moon), Browt has a heck of a pair of eyebrows and some lovely lime green colouring.
They’re smoll, they’re round(-ish), and they have a big puffy tail. Very cute indeed.
Pombon, the Puppy Pokémon
Image: The Pokémon Company
“The area below its throat glows faintly from the heat-generating organ within its lungs. This Pokémon is guileless and friendly.”
Type: Fire
Height: 1′4″ (0.4 m)
Weight: 14.8 lbs. (6.7 kg)
Ability: Blaze
Oh goodness, dog lovers beware, we have the bestest boy (or girl) right here. Pombon is a pomeranian-inspired ‘mon, fluffy and chipper just like the real pup.
We have a feeling this one’ll be popular — just look at their face!
Gecqua, the Water Gecko Pokémon
Image: The Pokémon Company
“This Pokémon launches springy balls of water from its tail. Gecqua is very intelligent and maneuvers shrewdly while putting on airs.”
Type: Water
Height: 1′ (0.3 m)
Weight: 9.5 lbs. (4.3 kg)
Ability: Torrent
Water and lizards go hand-in-hand, right? Gecqua is a sleek-looking ‘mon (more excellent eyebrows, too) who looks right at home in this water-filled region.
Will they give Sobble a run for their money? Who can say at this point…
That’s pretty much everything we know about the three at this point, and they’re the only new Pokémon we’ve seen too. So don’t go building a whole new team in your head. Even if lots of returning Pocket Monsters have already been shown off.
For now, based on early impressions, we want to know who your favourite new Starter is. Get voting in our poll below, and debate the best new beginner in the comments.
Which Starter Pokémon will you pick in Winds & Waves? (3,448 votes)
Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry.
We were hoping that The Pokémon Company might have a little something special up its sleeve for the big 30th anniversary Pokémon Presents, and while it may not have been wall-to-wall bangers, there were certainly some surprises.
Below, we’ve assembled a guide of every news drop, game reveal, and announcement made during the February 2026 Pokémon Presents, and we’ve even included a poll at the bottom so you can share your thoughts on the event.
Ready to ride the Waves of announcements? Let’s see where the Winds take us…
Pokémon Presents February 2026 – The Full Presentation
There was, in fact, more to the showcase than a new game announcement and a couple of fresh trailers. To make sure you’re all caught up, we’ve linked the full Feb 2026 Presents below.
Pokémon Presents February 2026 – Every Announcement
Now then, onto the announcements! Here’s a rundown of them all in the order they arrived.
Game Boy Jukebox
Image: Gemma Smith / Nintendo Life
Yes, that’s a mini Game Boy with swappable cartridges. No, you won’t be able to play them. This is the Game Boy Jukebox (or Game Boy Music Collection), and it comes with 45 separate carts for you to play tunes from the original two games.
It’s very small. It’s very cute. It’s very… inessential? Hey, it’s a Pokémon music box, what else do you want us to say?
Pokémon World Championships 2026
Image: The Pokémon Company
Both the Pokémon World Championships and Pokémon XP events will be held simultaneously in San Francisco’s Chase Centre this year. Expect interactive exhibits, cosplay events, competitions and, of course, the all-important pop-up shop.
We even got a new piece of art to mark the occasion, which you’ll find above.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is getting in on the 30th anniversary celebrations with a new set which’ll “release simultaneously worldwide” later this year.
We don’t know all that much about it at the moment, but we’re sure everyone will behave completely normally once it drops… yeah right.
Alongside the big 30th anniversary, 2026 also marks 10 years of Pokémon GO. To celebrate the occasion, a boatload of ‘mon that have previously appeared in the game will make their return in the ‘All Out’ event, which runs from 7th-8th March.
A two-day Tour event starts on 28th Feb, and you can use the following promo code until 2nd March to be given a chance to encounter your chosen Pokémon: GOTOURKALOS
Red (as in the OG protagonist) will arrive in Pokémon Masters EX alongside his Pikachu. Florian & Ogrepon and Juliana & Terapagos will also get their own individual events in the coming weeks.
Yep, this is your yearly reminder that Pokémon Café ReMix is a real game that really exists. A round-up of all the starter Pokémon for each region will be heading to the title from 28th Feb. New chef outfits and café decorations are inbound too.
A new Unite event will add licenses for legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, with Meganium, Typhlosion and Feraligatr coming in the future alongside an ‘Electrode Volleyball’ world tour.
We got another look at the Paldean Wonders set, which launched earlier this week. TPC also confirmed that special rewards will be available to all those who log in every day.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen launch on the Switch eShop today! We already knew this, of course, but what we didn’t know was the extent of the game’s Pokémon HOME integration, which was detailed today.
HOME compatibility will arrive at some point down the line, but Pokémon transfers will only operate one way, so don’t expect to get back any ‘mon which you transfer to FR/LG. Sending Pokémon from FR/LG to HOME, on the flip side, will let you transfer them to Switch-compatible games, including Scarlet and Violet, Legends: Z-A, and Champions.
Pokémon Champions
We got another look at Pokémon Champions — the go-to battling format for the competitive scene moving forward — accompanied by a Switch release window of April 2026. The mobile release will follow later this year.
Those with the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC can now redeem a Mystery Gift, which puts you on the path to unlocking Mega Garchomp Z. If you don’t have the expansion, you can still redeem the Mystery Gift, but you won’t be able to do anything with it.
Before Pokémon Pokopia launches in full, we got one last new look at it. The new trailer showcases fresh Poké pals DJ Rotom and Chef Dente, and details some of the fun you’ll be able to have in multiplayer.
And finally, the Presents wrapped up with the reveal of Pokémon Wind & Waves, the long-rumoured mainline games coming to Switch 2 at some point in 2027.
The trailer gave us a first look at the three starters — Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua — included some panning shots of the region and its various biomes, and even introduced Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu, a pair of particularly dapper Pikachu.
Our Reaction
Looking for a temperature check on the presentation? Here are some reactions from Team NL’s lovely Alex and Mai:
Poll – How Would You Rate It?
All in all, we’d say that’s a pretty packed show! The big question is, what did you make of it? Did the app announcements get you down in the dumps, or was that next-gen tease enough to lift your spirits? You can rate the showcase in the poll below.
How would you rate the Pokémon Presents February 2026? (1,391 votes)
10 – Outstanding8%
9 – Excellent13%
8 – Great17%
7 – Good20%
6 – Not Bad12%
5 – Average12%
4 – Poor7%
3 – Bad2%
2 – Terrible1%
1 – Abysmal3%
I still haven’t watched it, but I’m always game for a poll!4%
Gen 10 is official! Earlier today at the end of the Pokémon Presents broadcast, The Pokémon Company finally lifted the lid on the next mainline entries in the monster-catching super-series: Pokémon Winds & Waves.
Coming to Switch 2 sometime in “2027”, we got our first look via a trailer, and the makers have released the first art from the upcoming games, including illustrations for the main character pairs from each version, the new starters, and the improbably named Pikachu pair, Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Pokémon Winds & Waves Reveal Artwork
Logos
Starting at the beginning, we’ve got some super high-res logo shots, highlighting the winds and, indeed, waves, as you’d expect. Gotta love a big ol’ .png…
Image: The Pokémon Company
Main characters
Next up, it’s the main characters, with each game offering a slightly different flavour:
First, the Winds pair:
Second, the Waves duo:
Starters
Next, it’s the adorable new starter Pokémon, Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua.
Special Pikachus
And finally, two new “Special” Pikachus: Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu. We wonder, which one will be in which version? It’s impossible to know.
Ah, always nice to have some fresh, offical ‘mon art. Let us know what you make of these below.
Apple’s current 15-inch MacBook Air equipped with the M4 chip has dropped to $1,049 as Amazon competes for your business this weekend.
The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air features a 10-core GPU, with the standard model also equipped with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD. Amazon is discounting the standard spec to $1,049, representing a 13% markdown off MSRP.
From today, players can get Mega Garchomp Z, a brand new Mega Evolution for a Gen 4 favourite Garchomp. However, this is exclusive for those who own the Mega Dimension DLC.
Yes, they already have a Mega Evolution, but what’s a second one, hey? The difference with this variant is that it’s fully ditching its dual Dragon/Ground-typing and going full Dragon-type. It’s now even faster and constantly hovering, making it more-deadly than ever.
To claim your Garchompite Z, you’ll need to claim a new Mystery Gift, which will then unlock a special hyperspace dimension where you’ll need to defeat this fearsome creature to get that precious Mega Evolution stone. It could be tricky, so bring your best team and donuts!
If you claim the Mystery Gift without the DLC, you’ll get the following message (and can’t do anything with it):
“Meet the conditions to find a pocket of hyperspace where you can obtain a Garchompite Z stone”
This is the latest post-launch Mega Evolution to be added to Z-A via a Mystery Gift following Mega Mewtwo Z and Mega Diancie, who are available to everyone, regardless of having the DLC.
And, if you haven’t grabbed Mega Dimension yet, we think it’s okay, but incredibly grindy and repetitive. So keep that in mind.
Looking forward to battling Mega Garchomp Z? Think another ‘mon deserves a new Mega? let us know in the comments.
Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen is out now on the Switch eShop, and for those of you worried about whether you’ll be able to transfer your team to other games, fear not, as Pokémon HOME support has been confirmed.
Compatibility with the storage app will be arriving at a later date, But transferring your ‘mons will be a one-way deal, with anything you trade from FireRed / LeafGreen won’t be able to come back.
Thankfully, transferring to Home will allow you to send the ‘mons to other Switch and Switch 2 games such Scarlet & Violet, Legends: Z-A (coming soon) and Champions (though the latter is just a “link”).
The details are all laid out in the visual below:
Image: The Pokémon Company
We all thought Home would be coming to FireRed & LeafGreen initially, as the details were initially included on the eShop pages for all versions of the game last Friday. But shortly after the games were announced, the description was changed to removed mention of Home.
Well, this cleared things up a bit, didn’t it?
Are you picking up FireRed or LeafGreen today? Happy to hear that Home compatibility is coming? Let us know in the comments!
