Pokémon fans finally got their first look at the franchise's next big adventure during Pokemon Presents 2026, when Pokemon winds and Pokemon waves was officially revealed as the next main entry in the series. These two titles bring the highly anticipated Gen 10 roster of Pokémon, and are currently set to launch globally on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. While the release window is a bit later than many were probably hoping for, it's still exciting that the announcement has finally been made, especially after Pokemon winds and Pokemon waves seen several leaks and rumors circulating in recent months.
Details which starter pokemon for Winds and WAVES and the world the games will be set in was undoubtedly at the forefront of fans' minds before and after the reveal, but one rather curious feature concerns the attire the player character will wear. Specifically, the outfit the player's trainer wears at the start of the game changes depending on which version they are playing. It's a small but elegant twist on a long tradition of version-exclusive features in the series, giving players even more incentive to buy one, the other, or both.
Every Pokemon officially confirmed for Winds and Waves so far
Pokemon Winds and Waves' official reveal is finally here, and the trailer confirms several returning Pokemon for Gen 10 as well as the new starters.
Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves have unique outfits for players
As the many paired Pokémon game before that, Winds and WAVES will feature its own exclusive elements, from different wild Pokemon lists to potentially even unique story beats. But this time, that difference starts with the appearance of the player character. According to the announcement trailer for Pokemon wind and Pokemon wavesas well as information found on the game's official website, trainer i Pokemon winds sport a lighter, safari-inspired wardrobe with a white and light blue accented hat and matching backpack, while Pokemon waves the tracksuits feature deeper shades of blue and a baseball cap style.
Who is that character?
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Ultimately, that design choice makes the version players choose to buy even more personal, as it's no longer just about the Pokémon in the game, but about the player's avatar. For players who already enjoy tweaking hairstyles, accessories and other cosmetic features in games like Pokemon Scarlet and Violetwith a version-specific signature outfit i Pokemon winds and WAVES makes his first impression hit a little harder.
Where fashion can possibly meet function
While the limited amount of details about the exclusive clothes for Pokemon winds and WAVES makes them seem like they will be a purely cosmetic touch, Pokémon history suggests that they could (or could not) affect each game's gameplay in some way. Previous posts like Scarlet and Violet used version-exclusive school uniforms as a narrative justification for the initial clothing choices, but they also eventually allowed players to mix and match their outfits more freely. If Winds and WAVES does something similar in terms of character customization isn't clear yet, but it's still a possibility.
With Pokemon winds and WAVES Pointing out this feature, however, if each game has cosmetic customization beyond the outfits already revealed, it's likely that additional cosmetics will be locked to the same style and perhaps the same color palette. For some gamers it means little more than a fun visual touch, but it could fuel the collecting mindset of others and give them even more reason to buy both versions of the upcoming Pokémon game.
Coach in Pokemon winds sport a lighter, safari-inspired wardrobe with a white and light blue accented hat and matching backpack, while Pokemon waves the tracksuits feature deeper shades of blue and a baseball cap style.
As Pokemon winds and Pokemon waves set for a 2027 launch, Game Freak could be more upfront about the extent of character customization in each game, but for now there's already some incentive to buy either game or both in addition to Pokemon itself. That aside, more details about each game's exclusive Pokémon, or their potentially unique story beats, mechanics, and even environments, will likely be revealed as the launch window nears. Until then, fans can ponder which avatar they might want to rock first, and ultimately which version of Pokémon Gen 10 they want to take home with them.
- Released
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2027
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
