Pokemon Series Faces Historic Release Schedule Shift
The beloved franchise experiences its longest gap between mainline game releases to date.
The Pokemon franchise has reached a significant milestone in its release history, marking an unprecedented three-year gap between mainline game releases. This extended interval represents a notable departure from the series’ traditional release pattern, which has typically maintained a maximum two-year gap between major titles since its inception in the 1990s.
Looking back at the franchise’s history, the previous record for the longest interval between main series releases was set between 2019’s Pokemon Sword and Shield and 2021’s Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The current stretch, following the 2022 releases of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, has now exceeded that mark.
While fans await new content, industry sources like Centro Leaks have highlighted this unusual pause in the franchise’s typically steady release schedule. However, the horizon isn’t empty – Pokemon Legends: Z-A is confirmed for a 2025 release on the Nintendo Switch, with reports suggesting a potential native Switch 2 version in development.
List of Main Series Pokemon Games in the US
- Pokemon Red and Blue – 1998 (released in 1996 in Japan)
- Pokemon Yellow – 1998
- Pokemon Gold and Silver – 1999
- Pokemon Crystal – 2000
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire – 2002
- Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen – 2004
- Pokemon Emerald – 2004
- Pokemon Diamond and Pearl – 2006
- Pokemon Platinum – 2008
- Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver – 2009
- Pokemon Black and White – 2010
- Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 – 2012
- Pokemon X and Y – 2013
- Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire – 2014
- Pokemon Sun and Moon – 2016
- Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon – 2017
- Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee – 2018
- Pokemon Sword and Shield – 2019
- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – 2021
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus – 2022
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – 2022
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A – 2025
Industry insiders suggest another mainline Pokemon title might arrive in late 2025, though it’s not expected to be the tenth generation. Speculation about potential Black and White remakes has emerged, but these claims remain unconfirmed. As for Generation 10, current projections point to a 2026 release at the earliest, which would match the four-year gap previously seen between Generation 4 and 5.
Recent reports indicate that upcoming Pokemon titles, including the anticipated Generation 10, are being developed with the original Switch hardware in mind, though native Switch 2 versions may be released alongside them. A Pokemon Presents event, scheduled for February 27, is expected to provide more clarity about the franchise’s upcoming releases.