Insider Shpeshal Nick has claimed that Switch ports of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are planned for late September or October, following the success of FireRed and LeafGreen on the console. The ports would continue Nintendo's rollout of classic Game Boy Advance Pokémon titles, which began in February as part of Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations.
FireRed and LeafGreen success paves the way
In February 2026, Nintendo released direct ports of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch, priced at £16.99 each. Despite complaints about the lack of additional features, the games sold over four million copies within six weeks. That commercial performance has fueled speculation that more ports are on the way, and Shpeshal Nick's claim aligns with that expectation.
Shpeshal Nick, who recently accurately leaked a Zelda-themed Switch 2 console, tweeted on August 12, 2026: "Currently, the ports of Pokémon Ruby/Emerald/Sapphire are planned for late September/October." The tweet included a link to the original report. Dataminers have also found references to Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald in the source code of the FireRed and LeafGreen Switch ports, suggesting future compatibility.
Why Ruby and Sapphire, not Gold and Silver?
The choice of Ruby and Sapphire over Gold and Silver likely comes down to emulation ease. So far, all the ports have been Game Boy Advance titles, which are easier for Nintendo to emulate than the dual-screen Nintendo DS or 3DS games. Gold and Silver are Generation II games originally released on the Game Boy Color, while Ruby and Sapphire are Generation III on the Game Boy Advance.
Nintendo shadow-dropped FireRed and LeafGreen in February, so a similar surprise release could happen again, possibly during the traditional September Direct, though that event has not yet been confirmed. As of now, the only big Switch 2 games confirmed for autumn are Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.
Future of DS and 3DS games on Switch
If these ports materialize, Nintendo's next step may be to release Nintendo DS and 3DS games on Switch. There have been long-standing rumors, but Nintendo has only released a small number of DS games for the Wii U Virtual Console, and none have been made available for the Switch 1 or 2. The twin-screen and touchscreen controls make these systems difficult to emulate, but many games remain trapped on them, including Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Nintendo may need to find a solution, either using the Switch 2 as is or with specialized hardware.
Beyond old ports, Nintendo is set to launch the next mainline Pokémon games, Pokémon Winds and Waves, in 2027. According to a rumor from CentroLeaks, these games might see a change in director. Shigeru Ohmori, who has directed every mainline Pokémon game since Pokémon Sun and Moon, may be replaced by Hiroyuki Tani and Katushiko Ichiraku. Tani directed the DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield, while Ichiraku helmed the DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Ohmori also co-directed the hit spin-off Pokémon Pokopia, which recently received new Bubbly Basin DLC, so he might focus on that sub-franchise.
As is typical with Nintendo, the director for Pokémon Winds and Waves may not be confirmed until release. If the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald ports do arrive in late September or October, they will likely follow the same direct port model as FireRed and LeafGreen, offering a straightforward way for players to revisit the Hoenn region on modern hardware.
