- Primary Subject: What Pokémon Winds and Waves Need to Do (Gen 10 Evolution)
- Key Update: Officially confirmed during the February 27, 2026 Pokémon Presents, these titles are set for a 2027 release on the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring a tropical archipelago inspired by Southeast Asia.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 5, 2026
- Quick Answer: To modernize for 2027, Pokémon Winds and Waves must implement voice acting, trade evolution alternatives, a new type, tutorial skips, and stat-based training facilities.
It is a great time to be a Pokemon fan, as the next mainline entry of the series has finally been announced. Titled Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves, the two are set to be released in the year 2027. With their trailers showing us what we can expect, there seems to be a lot of promise, and I, along with many others, am very excited to get our hands on it as soon as possible.
While it's great that the tenth generation is coming and that it looks amazing, there are still some concerns. A very important one involves what it is that Pokemon Winds and Waves do to allow the series to evolve further. Both games will likely do something to help push things forward, but as someone who loves and has played Pokemon since its early days, there are a few things I think they should do:
1. Provide Voice Acting
It is truly a mystery why Pokemon has no voice acting for any of its games, despite the benefits that would come from having it. Given that the franchise is over three decades old, you'd think it would have it by now, but clearly that isn't the case. The tenth-generation entries have the opportunity to provide what fans have been longing for, and they should.
Voice acting can go a long way in immersing players into the world that they're living in, as it helps make its inhabitants feel alive. Even if it's just in the cutscenes, being able to hear a character speak can bring out a lot of their personality, making them more distinguishable and memorable. It's something the series desperately needs after going without it for so long, and hopefully Pokemon Winds and Waves can finally deliver.
2. An Alternative to Trade Evolutions
Trade evolutions in Pokemon have been a constant annoyance for people who would rather play alone or have circumstances that force them to. Many have already missed out on getting amazing partners like Alakazam or Scizor, all because they didn't want to or couldn't due to one mechanic, making their experience feel incomplete.
Pokemon Winds and Waves should finally be the games that provide an alternative to trade evolutions. Regardless of how tedious or lengthy the process is, being available will be much preferable to being without. An alternative to trade evolutions can be a game-changer, especially for those who cannot or will not play with others, making it something that Game Freak will hopefully implement.
3. Introducing a New Pokemon Type
When it comes to Pokemon, aside from their designs, one of the things that makes each unique is its typing. It's what allows battles to be more engaging, as there's a rock-paper-scissors system where you have to figure out which type is stronger or weaker against another. Adding new types would make combat more interesting, but we haven't had one since Pokemon X and Y with Fairies, which was over a decade ago.
Now that we're in a new region, there's a good chance that Pokemon Winds and Waves can finally provide the update the mechanic needs. So long as it isn't too overpowered like Generation One Dragons and Psychic types were, then it could truly reshape the landscape of both casual and competitive battles, and that's a good thing for the series.
4. Allowing Players to Skip Tutorials
If there's one thing that can grind a player's will to enjoy playing a Pokemon game to a screeching halt, it's tutorials. Understandably, they're necessary for those who have just started getting into the series, but the vast majority of fans are those who have played since its early days, meaning they already know what to do.
So, what Pokemon Winds and Waves is to provide the option to skip the tutorial section entirely. This benefits the series in the long term, as it ensures that both newcomers and veterans get an experience that allows them to best enjoy what they're playing. It's a very simple change, but one that's effective in making things more enjoyable for all players, which is why it would be nice if the tenth generation did it.
5. Implementing a New and Engaging Way to Train Pokemon
As many fans know, the best way to make your team of Pokemon stronger is to have them battle others, beat them to gain experience, and level up. While it is a process that has stayed true since the first generation, perhaps it's time for an alternative.
Pokemon Winds and Waves could introduce a new way to strengthen Pokemon that isn't through a Day Care or through Rare Candies, one that's more fun. For example, it could take a page out of the book from an old game called Digimon World, where players can take their Pokemon to a center where they can perform different activities that each raise specific stats. Something like that can make the training process more diverse and more engaging, and would be good for the future of the series.
Pokemon Winds and Waves won't be out for another year, so here's hoping that Nintendo pushes to implement the things on this list into the game. If not these, then at least anything that will help improve the series, as it needs to evolve if it wants to earn new fans while also retaining its current ones.
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