Could Hoenn Be Next? Pokémon Fans Spot Clues Pointing to Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Switch Ports
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
A recent social media post from official Pokémon channels has fans convinced that Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald ports are quietly heading to Nintendo Switch.
Nostalgia remains an unbeatable force in gaming, and the Pokémon community is once again reading deep into the tea leaves. Following the surprise arrival of FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo hardware for the franchise thirtieth anniversary, speculation has reached a fever pitch over whether the Generation 3 Hoenn classics are getting the same treatment. Rumors began circulating last month when community dataminers discovered that the recent FireRed and LeafGreen releases contained code programmed to check for the existence of their Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald counterparts.
Those whispers turned into loud online discussions this week after the official Japanese Pokémon social media accounts shared a short video clip featuring Mr. Briney and his Wingull, Peeko. Observant players immediately zeroed in on the visual fidelity, pointing out that the colors appeared far too vibrant and crisp to be standard Game Boy Advance footage. Social media quickly lit up with theories that the clip was accidentally pulled straight from an unannounced modern port destined for the Switch and Switch 2.
The Pokémon Company has kept quiet regarding any official announcements, but the community knows all too well how the publisher operates. Given that previous classic drops were shadowdropped directly during major anniversary broadcasts, a surprise release strategy remains entirely possible for Hoenn. If these rumors hold true, players across current and next generation Nintendo hardware will soon have another piece of handheld history ready to stream, trade, and replay on modern screens.
Tags: Nintendo Switch, Pokemon, Retro Gaming, Gaming News
Original article: Polygon