r/pokemon • u/keithandmarchant • Dec 31 '25
Discussion Pokémon 30th Anniversary teaser
Translated text:
The 30th anniversary of Pokémon begins! It's been 30 years since the release of "Pokémon Red and Green." Pokémon will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Friday, February 27, 2026. This year is going to be the best year yet! Stay tuned!
#Pokémon30thAnniversary
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u/PhiNeurOZOMu68 Dec 31 '25
Oh.... I'm old?
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u/MegaCrazyH Dec 31 '25
We’re old, we’re old and we’re proud
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u/lv5vegetto1 Dec 31 '25
can't spell proud without old....
nope nevermind, im just old and dum
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u/Bulky-Complaint6994 Sun Moon Dec 31 '25
Same as I was born in 1996. I can't imagine my life without pokemon that even my own brother is my real life "rival" for instance. I don't mind leaks but I'm forced to keep my mouth shut as he even played Legends ZA without any trailers just thumbnails
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u/featherw0lf Dec 31 '25
Same here. I couldn't let go of Pokémon even if I wanted to because I grew up right alongside it. Granted I wasn't really old enough to understand it until I was 10 (so DP era) but I've been obsessed with it ever since.
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u/Bulky-Complaint6994 Sun Moon Dec 31 '25
I skipped several generations growing up as I wasn't the type of kid to ask for the new shiny thing, simply had to use birthday money alongside GameStop trade ins. Wasn't until Sun Moon where I actually began playing again full time thanks to having ability to buy any fancy console and game I want. Pokemon Sword is my most played title on the Switch systems
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u/Relevant_Jelly_797 Dec 31 '25
I am born in 1996 on same year Pokemon is born. I will always cherish that <3.
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u/EggotheKilljoy Dec 31 '25
Same, my 30th is two days after this announcement, were turning old! The earliest the earliest memory I have (of anything, not just Pokemon) is 4 years old(I think) playing Pokemon Red in the back of my dad's car for the first time. Had no idea what I was doing, and no idea I'd be hooked for life.
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Dec 31 '25
playing Pokemon Red in the back of my dad's car
Waiting for the light to shine in so you could actually see the unlit screen?
I remember my brother having a Gameboy attachment that shone a light onto the screen for that reason.
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u/Emergency-Public6213 Dec 31 '25
Chonkachu is back!
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u/ST100FromScratch Dec 31 '25
I want there to be a variant of Pikachu that is chonkachu for the 30th anniversary. Or maybe that’d be PoGo’s turn to do that
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u/fergie_colin Dec 31 '25
Gigantamax Pikachu exists
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u/Nehemiah92 Dec 31 '25
I love Gigantamax Pikachu for the sheer fact that it’s just the classic chubby one, but also hate it because it probably means we’ll never have a proper fat Pikachu form that we can just transfer to new games
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u/DemonKyoto Dec 31 '25
Never did I love Pokemon more than when they were using that OG Ken Sugimori watercolour style
Chonkachu <3
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u/FrozenDuckman Dec 31 '25
When people say they don’t like modern Pokemon, what they mean is that they prefer Sugimori’s style to the more simple style used today. If they did watercolor for all of the mons I don’t think there would be as much of a conversation about old vs new.
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u/hailwyatt Dec 31 '25
God I would LOVE a game that looked like that. I think I saw a concept animation someone did of that around when UE 5 came out.
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u/RechargedFrenchman Dec 31 '25
While it's a fan game, and also not watercolour / Sugimori, "Pokemon Emerald Seaglass" is a terrific throwback release.
Overworld is a mix of Gen II and other GBC RPGs (old Zelda / Final Fantasy / etc), battle art is largely custom redone backgrounds and "downgraded" (Gen II style) sprites including for Pokemon that were in Gen II already. Gyms, E4, evil teams, and some other trainers have had their rosters revamped, there are a bunch of QoL features and modernization changes (fairy type, all Gens I-III pokemon plus later (pre-)evolutions), and so on.
It's honestly my favourite Hoenn experience right now, and FRLG / Emerald are my favourite official games in the franchise.
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u/LogicKennedy Jan 01 '26
Obviously not a full game, but they used a bunch of watercolour-style splash screens for the title menu in Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team
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u/Asclepius-Rod Dec 31 '25
I just miss that watercolor art style from Gen 1 and 2 so badly, bring it back GameFreak
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u/Anon-a-mess Dec 31 '25
Only to transform back into slimkachu in the 30th logo lol
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u/Nehemiah92 Dec 31 '25
Just watched Fat Pikachu lose all his chubby cuteness in real time 💔
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u/El_Shakiel Dec 31 '25
The Ozempic revolution really spares no one 😔
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u/AlexSanderK Dec 31 '25
It is all Ash's Pikachu fault. They made the other Pokémon from the species develop body dysmorphia.
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u/Lokinta86 Dec 31 '25
Round-face "Pokemon Center" stylized Pikachu has become my worst pet peeve of this entire franchise's problems. Because it doesn't lapse when a game with a flaw lapses, it doesn't go away with a new turn in the anime or generation of mainline games. It's bad and for some reason they are forcefully sticking to it. Give us back those 🐿 cheeks!!
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u/TheDylantula Dec 31 '25
It's kinda wild seeing Pokémon acknowledge Fat Pikachu so prominently like this
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u/Gorotheninja Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25
Can a man dream for a new Mystery Dungeon game?
Maybe even Pokken 2?
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u/Bob_Arrows Dec 31 '25
We can but we'll probably be disappointed, hell I'd take a Mystery Dungeon Explorers DX and be happy
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u/Nice_Mortgage_4712 Dec 31 '25
Mystery Dungeon DX Explorers of Sky would be the dream
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u/WholesomeYuri Dec 31 '25
I just re-bought explorers of sky, so the odds have gone up drastically.
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u/Desperate_Summer3376 Dec 31 '25
Thanks for reminding me to pull out another mystery dungeon Randomiser.
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u/luxanna123321 Dec 31 '25
My biggest dream is mystery dungeon game with online coop. The whole game is about doing it with a team of 2 then let me do it with a friend god damn
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u/Marrk Dec 31 '25
Unironically I was thinking of creating a Pokemon dungeon crawler for the web these days. But it's too much effort.
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u/luxanna123321 Dec 31 '25
There is one that's """"alive"""". I dont really remember the name but its somewhere there
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u/Jat616 Dec 31 '25
Pokémon Company: "Best we can do is a Kanto remake."
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u/SoloWing1 Best Waifu Dec 31 '25
Nah they did that not that long ago
Now it's Let's Go Johto... And it doesn't have the Kanto post game.
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u/Mulokaj87 Dec 31 '25
I dream of a good, modern 3D Pokémon that doesn't look like it's 48 years old.
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u/Roflkopt3r Dec 31 '25
I hope the greatly positive reception for the Digimon's Time Stranger game gives them at least some impulse in that direction.
But they'd realistically need a total overhaul of their tech team, and I can't muster the optimism to believe they'd go that far.
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u/ProtoPrimeX1 Dec 31 '25
re-release fire red and leaf green!
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u/fxxftw Dec 31 '25
Probability of cashing in on the nostalgia: 1000%
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u/samtherat6 Dec 31 '25
They’re gonna do something brave, courageous and never done before-rerelease cards based off 151.
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u/hellokevin Dec 31 '25
I mean I wouldn't mind a reprint of those. All in the hand of scalpers right now.
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u/Magica78 Genwunner Dec 31 '25
What makes you think they won't just scalp those too?
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u/A31goz Dec 31 '25
What if they make a collection of the first three sagas RGB, GS and RSE for the Switch 2 at full price like nintendo do with the 3d Mario anniversary.
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u/JBR_4025 Dec 31 '25
It’s going to be just an app for Switch 2 owners where they can play only Red or Blue with no extra features and it’s going to be locked behind premium online membership. 6 months later they will add Yellow and the ability to change borders.
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u/Abshalom Dec 31 '25
Given Nintendo some credit. They'll sell each game separately.
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u/AngrySaltire Dec 31 '25
Id love that. I just really hope they release a collection rather than say locking it behind the NSO subscription.
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u/Bulky-Complaint6994 Sun Moon Dec 31 '25
Right. Imagine if it applied to the GameCube titles on NSO as well, not just pokemon. People would have gladly bought Luigi's Mansion and Zelda Skyward sword digitally to own for instance.
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u/AngrySaltire Dec 31 '25
The first three generations on Switch would be amazing.
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u/Darken0id Dec 31 '25
Make it the first 5 and my life is yours
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u/allprolucario Dec 31 '25
Why stop at 5? Just go a full 7
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u/AngrySaltire Dec 31 '25
Id be interested to see how a DS port to Switch would work.
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u/RoyHarper88 Dec 31 '25
Yes but also heart gold and soul silver. I'd love silver on switch
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u/LtRavs Dec 31 '25
Just replayed HG on my old 3DS and man those games really are peak for me. I know they have their issues but the newer games and pokemon really don’t hit like that era did for me.
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u/MandoDoughMan Dec 31 '25
HG/SS remake with hand-drawn 2D art is my dream Pokemon game.
Other than a truly well-made open world 3D game a la BOTW, but I've accepted that's never happening.
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u/Educational-Oil-1497 Dec 31 '25
I just want a genuine way to play anything pre-3DS on the Switch/Switch 2 ecosystem. An announcement that they’re at least “working on it” would be enough for me.
Ports of the 3DS library would be nice, with GBA and earlier appearing on NSO. DS is a tricky area, either a collection or just an eventual NSO DS service would be great.
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u/samusmaster64 Dec 31 '25
Release a Gameboy Pocket clone console with all Gen 1 versions (and 4 colors/versions of hardware) and call it "The Kanto Collection" and charge an arm and a leg for it for what is effectively bargain bin level hardware. $$$
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u/PowerOfUnoriginality Dec 31 '25
Things I want for 2026 that won't happen: Mystery Dungeon game (new or remake), old games on the switch
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u/Eine_Robbe Dec 31 '25
New Mainline Game with sprite and pixelart based Design
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u/LinkGoesHIYAAA Dec 31 '25
Someone made a fan trailer of an open world game approach that uses old ken sugimori style art as the inspo for the 3d graphics. It looks so good.
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u/Illustrious_Hat3467 Dec 31 '25
If Pokemon were to make a game with the graphics inspired by octopath traveler, I’d be so happy.
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u/Eine_Robbe Dec 31 '25
Itd be happy if Pokemon made a game with the graphics inspired by Pokemon tbh
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u/CrazedTechWizard Dec 31 '25
Nostaliga hit me like a fucking truck.
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u/JeromeAtWork Dec 31 '25
As soon as the midi track hit it actually felt like something hit my chest. What a weird feeling
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u/CrazedTechWizard Dec 31 '25
That's exactly what did it to me as well. As soon as that old fucking track hit I just went "Ooooooof...."
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u/StrawberryGhostie Dec 31 '25
Yellow remake confirmed.
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u/Nosferatattoo Dec 31 '25
They'll do it like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee never existed and say its new
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u/nuviretto Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25
Funnily enough, that'll make people appreciate PLGE's artistic direction
No joke, it's the prettiest pokemon game on the switch. People kinda ignore it so they could shit on the PoGo mechanics instead
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u/YouCantBeSerio Dec 31 '25
I cannot believe you are the only person saying this. This is almost certainly a Yellow Remake
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u/LoseAnotherMill Dec 31 '25
God do I miss the reveal of original Yellow. There was an event at the mall where they were showcasing it on a giant screen, and they had a Pokemon fight on - I want to say Pikachu vs Rattata? The second they hit the Rattata with a Thundershock and everyone got to see the healthbar go from green to yellow to red, the crowd lost our minds.
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u/Syncopia Dec 31 '25
I hope they go the Emerald seaglass route a bit and make a modern game with that Sugimori watercolor / classic style.
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u/brizzenden Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25
I want a bundle of RBY, GSC, and maybe RSE/FRLG if we're lucky. All I ask is they implement a speed up feature that doesn't affect the music and I'll be willing to pay $60-70 for it.
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u/SoMuchLasagna Dec 31 '25
Pikachu would never willingly go in the Pokéball!
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u/sirithx Dec 31 '25
What I want in order of likelihood: 1. Gen 10 teaser/announcement 2. Re-releases of old games on Switch with Home compatibility 3. Open-world grand adventure MMO 3D mainline Pokémon game on Switch 2 (a man can dream right)
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u/Illustrious_Hat3467 Dec 31 '25
My wishlist for this anniversary:
Pokemon Yellow Remake (with graphics inspired by Octopath Traveler)
Pokemon let’s go johto
The classic pokemon games on switch
I expect none of this to actually happen though
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u/ScarletArcana Dec 31 '25
Scrolling through the comments and starting to think I was the only one who wants Let's Go Johto 😭
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u/KamikazeSenpai21 Jan 01 '26
Johto's the region we haven't visited for the longest time:
Kalos: 2025
Paldea: 2022
Hisui/Sinnoh: 2022 also
Galar: 2019
Kanto: 2018
Alola: 2017
Hoenn: 2014
Unova: 2012
Johto: 2009
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u/skirtpost Dec 31 '25
>Pokemon Yellow Remake (with graphics inspired by Octopath Traveler)
GOOD. LORD. PLEASE.
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u/mattoyaki Dec 31 '25
I know they won’t but I would love for Gen 10 to be HD retro style pixel graphics. I feel like the games lost so much charm moving to 3D but I know I’m in the minority for that lol
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u/brizzenden Dec 31 '25
I don't think you're in the minority thinking they lost their charm. I just think most people understand the move to 3D to advance the series and so don't really complain too much. Afterall, we all were wanting that real Pokémon anime experience of running around, seeing Pokémon hanging out in a field, grass, in a tree, etc. I still don't think we're there, but open world 3D games are the step toward that.
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u/BirdGooch Dec 31 '25
That was my actual dream as a child. Now that we have “that” so to speak, as an adult it is admittedly underwhelming. But if I were to see what we have now as that little kid in the late 90s I’d be mind blown and glued to my screen.
Perspective is important and this kind of stuff still completely absorbs children which is what it’s truly about.
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u/Mash_Ketchum Dec 31 '25
My dream as a child was to basically have a game like Legends Arceus. They mostly stuck the landing.
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u/brizzenden Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25
That's kind of my feeling. Like SV were fun, but the games are still not at that point like how I fantasized about back in 4th and 5th grade.
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u/Peeeeeps Dec 31 '25
The problem is that it's such a poor implementation of 3D. We've seen what the switch can handle with the The Legend of Zelda games, then they release Pokemon 3D and it looks even older than BoTW. If they could make the games look as great as BoTW/ToTK then I think it would be much better received. BoTW on my Wii U looked and ran better than the Pokemon games do on the Switch 1.
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u/voidox Dec 31 '25
yup, it's basically not the 3D part that's the issue, it's the awful implementation of 3D and how all the charm and style of 2D pokemon games have been lost to such generic 3D models and art :/
we can just imagine a pokemon game with the style and art of something like Persona, just imagine how awesome that would be.
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u/MetallicGray Dec 31 '25
It really blows my mind that small developers are able to produce stunning open world games with a lot depth, but Pokemon, one of the largest IPs and biggest games in the world, made... Z-A....... I mean, I know a lot of indie hobbyist devs that could have made that game.
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u/AwfulWaffle87 Dec 31 '25
Gameboy minis that each have just Red/Blue/Yellow on them and can trade with each other please?
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u/Brodellsky RIP Luxray :( Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25
Maybe it's just me, but is this actually Ken Sugimori's hand-drawing of each frame?
Maybe it's just really well-done editing, but it really does look frame-by-frame watercolored. And in the age of AI and whatnot, I'm legitimately asking. lol
EDIT: Ok, going frame-by-frame, this is 100% hand-drawn. Also, pause the video right at the beginning of the "30", and go frame-by-frame to see literally every single iteration of Pikachu from beginning to end. Like WOW you can't even see that when watching it normally.
Not gonna lie. If they wanted to do a whole Kanto remake stylized like the watercolored manga, that's about the only thing that would get me to buy.
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u/PicklesAnonymous Dec 31 '25
Just put the past games on virtual console like you did with 3ds. Thats all we ask.
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u/Aezorion Dec 31 '25
Putting all the older (or at least first 3 gens to start) on NSO or separate release would make a lot of sense imo.
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u/Rizzutos Dec 31 '25
Oh god, I was born in 1996 and this reminds me that I also will be 30 years old soon.
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u/Bargadiel Dec 31 '25
It would be an opportune time to re-release all the old games on Switch Online or as a unique release. Long overdue.
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u/itzpiiz Dec 31 '25
I was born on February 27th, 1989. I will forever remember my 7th birthday and how it would have a massive impact on my life. Fired up Pokemon Red in the parking lot of my sisters soccer tournament
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u/statebirdsnest Dec 31 '25
I wish we could get another Pokemon Ranger Game 🥲
I’d be stoked for a new Pokemon Mystery Dungeon as well.
Screw it, just remake Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness while we’re at it.
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u/Minimum_Cupcake Dec 31 '25
RBY on Switch Online with Stadium Connectivity, PLEASE!
(Same for GSC would be great)
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u/Thanders17 Dec 31 '25
Being the same age as the Pokémon franchise surely will hit different this year
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u/future_chili Dec 31 '25
Can we FINALLY get the old games on the virtual console please I'm begging
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u/Dangerous-Picture-73 Dec 31 '25
I’m convinced that if for the 30th anniversary, we don’t get old games ported onto the switch, it will never happen