Pokémon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version are coming to Nintendo Switch. The classic Game Boy Advance remakes will be available to download from Nintendo eShop immediately after the Pokémon Presents broadcast on February 27, 2026 — Pokémon Day, marking 30 years of the franchise.
Originally released for Game Boy Advance in 2004, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of the 1996 originals that launched the series in Japan. While Red and Blue are often wheeled out for anniversary celebrations, Nintendo chose to bring FireRed and LeafGreen to the Nintendo Switch instead, calling them the “ultimate versions” of those early Kanto adventures. FireRed and LeafGreen feature updated graphics, quality-of-life improvements, and the Sevii Islands — an expanded post-game area with Pokémon beyond the original 151.
Related—All the main Pokémon games in chronological order
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch — Same Kanto, new platform
The contents of both games are broadly the same as their GBA releases. The most notable change is how connectivity works: the old Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable and Wireless Adapter have been replaced by built-in local wireless on Nintendo Switch. Up to five players can connect through the Pokémon Wireless Club, found on the second floor of any Pokémon Center, where they can trade, battle, or play minigames together. Online play is not supported, and a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to purchase or play either game.
There are no major performance differences between Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, though Switch 2 players will be able to use the GameChat feature while playing.
How to get Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch
Pokémon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version are available for pre-purchase now on Nintendo eShop ahead of the February 27 launch. There will be no physical release in most regions. One important note at checkout: the games are offered in separate language editions — English, European French, and European Spanish — mirroring how the GBA originals were distributed. Make sure to select the correct language version before completing your purchase.
Japanese players have an additional option: according to Serebii, a special physical bundle for both games will be available exclusively through Pokémon Center Online in Japan. No equivalent physical release has been announced for other regions.
Are FireRed and LeafGreen coming to GBA Nintendo Classics?
No. Players hoping to access Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen through the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics collection via Nintendo Switch Online will be out of luck. Both games are being sold exclusively as standalone software on Nintendo eShop and are not planned for the NSO library. Nintendo says the standalone release is a special gesture to mark 30 years of Pokémon.
For returning players and newcomers alike, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch is a rare chance to experience the Kanto region that started it all — a fitting way to mark three decades of Pokémon.
