After its reveal, folks are waiting to hear more info about Pokémon Winds and Waves, which isn’t even due out until 2027. While many people were expecting a 2026 holiday release, the later date allows Nintendo to spread out information and reveals.
Over on Reddit, fans are speculating about new regional variants, and expressing disappointment with the current generation’s handling of variants.
Will Pokémon Winds & Waves Feature New Regional Variants?
Fans Hope So
For those of you who don’t play Pokémon, regional variants are often a way to introduce new designs without drastically altering an existing Pokémon. Game Freak often deploys regional variants of classic characters, initially spicing up a lot of the original 151 from Gen 1.
Here’s the regional variant breakdown of each generation:
- Alola (Gen 7) – 18
- Galar (Gen 8) – 20
- Hisui (Gen 8) – 16
- Paldea (Gen 9) – 4
Fans were considerably disappointed when the latest generation didn’t offer many regional variants, so they’re hoping the pendulum will swing the other way in Gen 10. The speculation has already begun, with fans throwing out ideas for regional variants: “I guess some mons that could use one — Cottonee line, Hoppip line, Purrloin line, Hippopotas line, and the Vanillite line, to name a few.”
Others are holding out hope that older forgotten Pokémon will get a new lease on life: “I feel like Spearow/Fearow need something badly. 30 years of being overshadowed by countless other Normal/Flying types and one of the only remaining families from Kanto to have never received anything in the way of new evolutions or forms.”
One user isn’t even sure we’re going to get regional variants at all: “I’m a little worried they might be doing away with regionals considering the poor showing they had in all of Gen 9. I love Paldean Wooper and Clodsire, but just having that and the Tauros was a little too little. I understand they wanted to also introduce the concept of Convergents, but even those barely had any members (if we don’t count of the Paradox mons).”
It’s possible that we could see “beach bum” variants, not unlike the new Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu Pikachu NPCs. Ideally, Game Freak will show off at least one variant soon to confirm that the practice is still ongoing.
Pokémon Fans Want A New Evolution For Arbok
More 151 Changes Would Be A Hit
Many, many fans want a new Arbok evolution or regional variant. This particular Pokémon has been immensely popular since the very first Gen and was featured prominently throughout the anime, which is how many folks were introduced to Pokémon.
One user brings up a great point: “There are 14 lines from Gen 1 that haven’t had any updates other than small BST tweaks. I’m assuming at least two of them are going to get a regional form. My hopes are Arbok and Fearow, given the island region, Cloyster and Seaking seem more likely though. For those curious, the 14 are: The Nidos, Ditto, Arbok, Fearow, Golduck, Parasect, Kabutops, Omastar, Dewgong, Hypno, Seaking, Cloyster, Venomoth.”
Whatever your favorite Pokémon generation is, I hope your favorite ends up in Winds and Waves when it comes out in 2027. At the very least, you might get a regional variant.
- Released
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2027
- Developer(s)
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Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
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The Pokemon Company, Nintendo
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
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Single-player
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
