Nintendo recently dropped a bombshell, announcing that the classic GBA titles "Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen" would be hitting the Switch as paid releases, completely bypassing the Nintendo Switch Online service. This move sparked immediate debate among some fans. Yet, despite the chatter, both games swiftly climbed to the top of the eShop charts even before their official launch, proving the series' enduring, massive popularity.
This re-release is positioned as a key part of the "Pokémon" series' 30th-anniversary celebrations. However, the content remains largely faithful to the originals, with no new storylines or graphical enhancements. What's more, online battles and trading are out, with only local wireless connectivity making the cut. Initially, the official product page teased "Pokémon Home" support, allowing players to transfer Pokémon across generations – a feature many saw as one of the few exciting additions to this port.
However, eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted that the eShop product page had quietly scrubbed all mentions of "Pokémon Home" compatibility, igniting a firestorm of speculation. Cue the internet speculation: some theorize the feature simply isn't ready for prime time yet and might arrive via a post-launch update. Others wonder if the information was accidentally revealed too early, prompting an official, albeit silent, retraction.
As of now, neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company has officially addressed the vanishing act or confirmed whether "Pokémon Home" support has been canceled. One crucial detail to note is that each purchase of these versions is single-language, requiring players to choose their preferred language at the time of purchase. Regardless of the ongoing feature debate, "FireRed and LeafGreen" leveraged their classic charm and pure nostalgia to conquer the eShop rankings before their February 27, 2026 release, proving that the OG Kanto adventure clearly still holds massive sway.
via： Eurogamer