Bloody Hell, Pokémon! A Sick FireRed/LeafGreen Edition We Can't Touch (And That $20 Price Tag Eh?)
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
The classic Pokémon GBA remakes, FireRed and LeafGreen, are landing on Switch for $20, sparking debate, but the real talk is about a stunning, exclusive Japanese collector's edition with light-up glass Poké Balls that most of us can only dream of owning (or paying scalper prices for).
Right, so I’ve been tinkering with the latest Pokémon news all morning, and mate, it's wilder than a rogue Diglett suddenly appearing in your kettle. On one hand, we've got the classic Game Boy Advance titles, *Pokémon FireRed* and *LeafGreen*, finally making their way to the Switch next week. That's a good thing, right? Nostalgia hits different when it's natively on your current console. But then, as always, The Pokémon Company throws a curveball that makes you wonder if they're actually wizards who specialise in making fans happy and simultaneously utterly baffled.
First off, let's talk about the digital release. These beloved remakes of the original Red and Green are landing on the eShop on February 27th, fresh off the heels of the Pokémon Day Presents showcase, as part of the series' 30th-anniversary bash. Sounds grand! But here's where the gentle skepticism kicks in, like a poorly aimed 'Splash' attack: they’re priced at a cool $20. For games that originally dropped back in 2004, and are, let's face it, ports of remakes from twenty years ago. Now, I love a good retro re-release as much as the next digital wizard, but $20 for a GBA title in 2026? Fair dinkum, that feels a bit steep, doesn't it?
The rumour mill, always churning like a broken potion dispenser, suggests a reason why these aren't just chucked onto the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service like other GBA classics. Apparently, the NSO's rewind features might make it a tad *too easy* to save-scum your way through those notoriously tricky shiny hunts or those one-chance legendary encounters. And we can't have players having an 'easier' time with a game that, historically, has gone out of its way to ensure difficulty, can we? It’s almost like they’re trying to fix something that, for us players, wasn't exactly broken. Still, I suppose it's cheaper than trawling eBay for an original GBA cartridge that probably costs an arm, a leg, and your first-born Ditto these days.
But wait, there's a shimmering, unattainable treasure sparkling on the horizon, one that really twists the knife in the heart of collectors everywhere. If the $20 price tag had you grumbling, prepare for a full-on mystical tantrum. Because while the digital ports are for everyone, there's a *sick special physical edition* of *FireRed* and *LeafGreen* for Switch, and guess what? Most of us outside of Japan can't get our grubby mitts on it.
The Japanese Pokémon Center is unleashing a roughly $130 (or 19,800 yen, for those counting in magical currency) special edition. And when I say special, I mean it's got the kind of magical allure that makes you want to spontaneously teleport to Tokyo. We're talking replicas of the original Game Boy Advance packaging – the nostalgia factor alone is off the charts! – and, get this, a set of *glass Poké Balls* for each of the original Kanto starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. They even light up! You can almost hear the 'Pika-pika' of your wallet crying.
Look at them! It's such a gorgeous package, a true collector's dream, an artefact of gaming history crafted with genuine care. And then you remember you're not in Japan, and the reality hits harder than a Critical Hit. It’s like discovering a legendary Pokémon in the wild, only for it to be protected by an invisible force field that only responds to a Japanese IP address. Honestly, if you weren't already aware of this, I'm genuinely sorry for showing you something you probably can't have. My bad, mate, sometimes the digital wizardry goes too far.
Of course, like virtually all exclusive, limited-run Pokémon merchandise, this stunning bundle will undoubtedly find its way onto resale sites for grotesquely overinflated prices, thanks to our old friends, the scalpers. So, while it's not strictly 'impossible' to acquire if you don't reside in Japan, be prepared to sell a kidney (or perhaps a couple of shiny Legendaries from your main game) to afford it. It's the chaotic truth of modern collecting, where the coolest items often end up in the hands of those with the fastest bots, not the most passionate hearts.
It’s a bizarre juxtaposition, isn't it? On one side, we have a relatively pricey digital re-release that feels a bit like a missed opportunity for the NSO library. On the other, a truly breathtaking collector's item that epitomizes the very best of gaming nostalgia and fan service, gate-kept by geography and future market opportunists. It perfectly encapsulates the modern gaming landscape: moments of genuine innovation and beautiful tributes, often wrapped in layers of corporate strategy and distribution headaches.
Still, *FireRed* and *LeafGreen* are fantastic games, beloved by many, and their arrival on the Switch means a new generation (and plenty of old ones) can experience them without digging out ancient hardware. Go with Arceus, friends, and may your wallets be strong, and your luck for finding an affordable glass Poké Ball be even stronger.
--- *This article was inspired by original reporting from Kenneth Shepard at Kotaku, published on February 20, 2026. For the full original piece, visit kotaku.com.*
Tags: Pokémon, Nintendo Switch, Retro Gaming, Collector's Edition, Gaming News
Original article: kotaku