Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary: A Celebration of a Beloved Franchise
Nintendo is gearing up to celebrate a significant milestone – the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. On February 27, 2026, the company will commemorate 30 years since the launch of the iconic games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, which was later localized as Pokémon Blue in the West. This occasion has sparked excitement among fans, who are eagerly awaiting the company’s plans to mark this special day.
The official Pokémon Company X account recently posted about the upcoming anniversary, and fans quickly responded with a key demand: release the classic games on Nintendo Switch Online. Currently, the service offers various Pokémon spinoffs, including Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Snap, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. However, the mainline RPGs that started it all are still missing from the catalog.
Pokémon Needs to Release Its Greatest Classics on Nintendo Switch Online
The addition of the first three generations of Pokémon games to Nintendo Switch Online would be a massive boost to the service. Fans are hoping to see the following titles made available: Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Fire Red, and Pokémon Leaf Green. While the nature of Nintendo Switch Online’s titles might make this tricky, the potential benefits for fans and the company are substantial.
One potential issue is the lack of support for transferring Pokémon from save data, as seen with the recent addition of Pokémon Stadium to the library. However, for many players, the ability to capture and grow their Pokémon, even without transfer capabilities, would be enough to subscribe to the service. The opportunity to relive the journey of getting Gym badges and beating the Elite Four would be a significant draw for fans.
Mainline Pokémon RPGs Would Be a Killer App for Nintendo Switch Online
The release of mainline Pokémon RPGs on Nintendo Switch Online would be a game-changer for the service. Even modest fans would likely subscribe to access these classic titles, especially considering the high cost of retro games and Pokémon cartridges on the resellers’ market. The addition of transferable Pokémon would be ideal, but even without this feature, the games would still be a significant draw.
Regular subscribers would gain access to a treasure trove of Gen 1 and Gen 2 Pokémon games, while Expansion Pack subscribers would also receive the Gen 1 remakes, Fire Red and Leaf Green. These upgraded titles offer quality of life and battle system features from Gen 3, making them a wonderful addition to the service. Some features, such as save states, would need to be removed to prevent abuse of the mechanics, but this would not detract from the overall experience.
With the 30th anniversary of Pokémon approaching, fans are eagerly awaiting Nintendo’s plans to celebrate this milestone. The release of classic Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch Online would be a significant step in honoring the franchise’s legacy and providing fans with a unique opportunity to relive their childhood memories.
Created by Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, and Junichi Masuda, the Pokémon franchise has become a beloved and iconic part of gaming culture. With its latest film, Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, and its current series, Pokémon, the franchise continues to captivate audiences around the world. The first episode of the Pokémon series aired on April 1, 1997, and since then, the franchise has grown to include numerous games, movies, and other media.
