Five Bold Predictions on Pokémon Day 2025 Announcements
Source? Trust the vibes (and not the leaks)
Pokémon Day 2025 is one week away, which should also mean some major announcements in the world of Pokémon will also drop next week. For those unaware, Pokémon Day is the anniversary of the first games’ release in Japan, and the Pokémon Company holds a live stream to announce new games, updates, and more to celebrate. Last year, Pokémon Legends Z-A was announced. This year’s stream starts at 6 am Pacific time on February 27.
We have little official word on what’s coming this year to celebrate Pokémon’s 29th birthday, but that doesn’t stop reckless speculation! Here are my five bold predictions on how Pokémon Day 2025 will go. One disclaimer: I’m not an insider or a fan of leaks. These are more or less guesses based on some light precedent from years past.
Classic Pokémon Games release on Switch Online that day
Nintendo Switch Online membership comes with a ton of classic games from SNES to most recently the GameCube, but mainline Pokémon games have been noticeably absent. My bold prediction here is not just that new (old) Pokémon games are made available for Switch Online members, but that we get multiple generations of classic games and that they drop on Pokémon Day itself.
It's been a long time since any new Pokémon games have been released for the Switch, and as fun as Scarlet and Violet continue to be I think we can all agree it’s about time for a new adventure to kick off for Pokémon fans on their Switch consoles.
Pokémon Legends Z-A gets a trailer and release date
I honestly don’t mind that we’ve gotten nothing but radio silence on Pokémon Legends Z-A for a full year. I’d rather wait than get a worse game sooner. That said, I think it’s now time for us to get more information on the next Legends game including a release date – one I’m guessing will be later in 2025. How the release timing interacts with the Switch 2 is something I have no feel for, but I’d imagine having a Pokémon game to push for the holiday season is appealing.
We get a tiny, tiny peak at Generation 10
Pokémon loves to tease us with briefly-shown graphics showcasing flashes of new Pokémon, trainers, or regions, and I think we get all three on Pokémon Day 2025. I’m anticipating the full announcement for these games on Pokémon Day 2026, the 30-year anniversary of Pokémon, which is why I think we just get a taste for now. I’d be glad to be wrong and have the games release next year this time…as long as they’re polished!
Scarlet and Violet are shown some more love
These predictions are structured as a cohesive picture of the Pokémon Day announcements vs throwing a bunch of random unrelated darts. If no new Pokémon game is coming to the Switch for several months, it makes sense for players to get some more content on the most recent games in addition to some ported classics to pass the time.
To be clear I don’t think more DLC or anything major is coming for Scarlet and Violet players. An in-game giveaway of some sort makes sense, as does some sort of new Tera Raid Battle event. Featuring the various generations of starter Pokémon could be a fun way to pay homage to 29 years of Pokémon, and giving them hidden abilities, special marks, or increased shiny chance would give players reason to spend a few more hours in Paldea. We’ve already had one starter at a time featured in seven-star raids: releasing a bunch of them at once (maybe by type?) would be chaotic in a good way.
Another random app with Pokémon branding is announced
The mobile game market has boomed in recent years, and Pokémon has not sat on the sideline missing out. With Pokémon Go, Pokémon Smile, Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon Masters EX, and two different Pokémon TCG apps all available already you may think there’s nothing left to slap Pokémon branding on, but you would be wrong.
Whether it’s yet another Twitter competitor in Pikachu colors, a language learning app with Meowth serving instead of the recently-deceased Duolingo owl, or a workout app with Machoke teaching trainers how to get in shape, I don’t think Pokémon is done adding apps to fans’ phones yet.
(Bonus!) We will not be disappointed
Many Pokémon fans, myself included, have been hooked on all things Pokémon for decades now. The hype every time we get a new Pokémon Presents reaches a level so high it can feel impossible to not be underwhelmed.
Maybe I’m just a naive optimist, but I really think the hype will be lived up to next week. Pokémon has been quiet for a while now, and what better day to share what’s been cooking behind the scenes than Pokémon Day itself?