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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are announced as Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives arriving worldwide in 2027, while Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet launched on November 18, 2022, and are listed for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan. The new games’ announced world centers on windswept islands and a vast ocean. Beyond those points, the official details are still limited: the reveal confirms three starters and version-specific protagonist outfits, but not a final battle system, full Pokédex, performance targets, or a complete list of version differences.
Confirmed differences at a glance
| Comparison | Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves | Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet |
|---|---|---|
| Release | Simultaneous worldwide release in 2027; no exact date is stated in the cited announcement or product listing. The Pokémon Company announcement | Released November 18, 2022. Official Japanese product information |
| Platform | Announced as exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo product listing | The official Japanese product information lists Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Official Japanese product information |
| Announced world | An open world featuring windswept islands and a vast ocean, with lush environments, regional Pokémon ecosystems, and forces of nature that can obstruct the journey. The announcement does not define the systems behind those descriptions. The Pokémon Company announcement | The reviewed official product information identifies the games as RPGs but does not provide a directly comparable detailed world description. That source limitation does not establish that Scarlet and Violet lack similar features. Official Japanese product information |
| Starters and outfits | The announced starters are Browt (Grass), Pombon (Fire), and Gecqua (Water). The protagonist’s outfit differs by version; the reveal shows a light-colored, wide-brim-hat outfit for Winds and a blue-cap outfit for Waves. The Pokémon Company announcement | The cited official product information does not enumerate the starters or provide outfit details for comparison. Official Japanese product information |
What the Winds and Waves reveal actually confirms
A new island-and-ocean setting
The Pokémon Company describes an open world of “beautiful windswept islands and a vast ocean with glittering waves that ebb and flow.” It also mentions lush surroundings, regional Pokémon ecosystems, and natural forces that may obstruct the player’s journey. These are official descriptions of the setting, not a detailed explanation of exploration, traversal, weather, or other gameplay mechanics. The February 27, 2026 announcement
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Three starter Pokémon
- Browt: Grass type, Bean Chick Pokémon.
- Pombon: Fire type, Puppy Pokémon.
- Gecqua: Water type, Water Gecko Pokémon.
The announcement names these choices, but the cited Scarlet and Violet product page does not list its starters, so it does not provide a source-matched comparison of the two sets. The Pokémon Company announcement
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Different protagonist outfits by version
The reveal confirms that the player character’s outfit varies between Winds and Waves and shows the two looks. It does not establish other version-exclusive content, story differences, or a full breakdown of what changes between editions. The Pokémon Company announcement
#1 Best Overall
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
Release timing and platform compatibility
Nintendo lists Winds as a Switch 2 exclusive, and the announcement says Winds and Waves will release simultaneously worldwide in 2027. Neither cited source gives a specific launch day. Nintendo’s Winds listing · The Pokémon Company announcement
For Scarlet and Violet, the Japanese official product information lists November 18, 2022, as the release date and identifies both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as platforms. It also lists physical and download formats. These are facts from the Japanese product information; check the relevant regional listing for local edition and availability details. Official Japanese product information
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- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
What Scarlet and Violet’s official listing says
The Japanese product information classifies Scarlet and Violet as RPGs. It lists single-player play, battle and trade features for two to four players, and local and internet communication. Those details describe the listed Scarlet and Violet product; they do not establish which features Winds and Waves will include. Official Japanese product information
What is still unknown about the differences
The 2026 announcement cautions that not all footage is representative of actual gameplay. As a result, trailer imagery alone does not confirm final graphics quality or prove a technical improvement over Scarlet and Violet. The cited official sources do not establish:
Rank #3
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
- How battles or other core mechanics will work in Winds and Waves.
- Resolution, frame rate, or other performance specifications.
- A complete Pokédex or which Pokémon will appear in each game.
- Version-exclusive Pokémon, story variations, or other edition differences beyond the confirmed protagonist outfits.
- An exact 2027 release date.
The Pokémon Company says more information will be shared later; until then, these comparisons should be treated as unconfirmed rather than inferred from reveal footage. The Pokémon Company announcement
Scarlet and Violet’s launch sales figure, in context
Nintendo’s investor presentation published February 7, 2023, reported 18.2 million combined units sold through for Scarlet and Violet in the first seven weeks after release. Nintendo described that start as the fastest for a title on a Nintendo dedicated video game platform. This is a historical launch-period figure, not a current lifetime sales total. Nintendo’s investor presentation for the nine-month period ended December 2022
Quick Recap
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