It looks like Pokémon Legends: Z-A is going to close the curtain on mainline Pokémon games for the current Nintendo Switch. Latest leaks suggest that Gen 10, codename Gaia, will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title.
There have been plenty of peaks and valleys in the current Switch era. Titles like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee excited fans, while technical issues overshadowed others despite their ambitious ideas.
Z-A, set in the reimagined Lumiose City, is aiming to go out with a bang. Mega Evolutions are back, real-time combat might be coming, and it all feels like it's pushing the Switch to its absolute limits. That also could very well be the reason this marks the end for the console.
According to Centro Leaks (a trusted source for Pokémon news), Z-A is planned to be the final mainline Pokémon game on the original Nintendo Switch. According to them, Gen 10 (codenamed Gaia) will launch in 2026 as a Switch 2 exclusive.
Earlier leaks pointed to a cross-gen strategy, releasing Gaia on both Switch and Switch 2, followed by an enhanced version called "Super Gaia." But it seems that's no longer the case, and Game Freak is reportedly going all in on the new hardware.
The reason behind the shift might have to do with performance. The previous console's hardware has been tested to its limits, leaving fans hoping Gen 10 can avoid the technical pitfalls that plagued Scarlet and Violet.
Betting on Switch 2 lets developers expand (pun intended) without the need to scale back for the aging original. What's interesting is that the decision to skip backward compatibility for Gen 10 wasn't always a given.
In fact, the now-infamous Teraleak once included a version of Gaia built for Switch 1. However, Centro states those plans were set aside as development carried on.
Unless Switch 2 unexpectedly flops (which seems unlikely), Gaia is moving forward as a next-gen-only project. So where does that leave us? Z-A will likely act as the bridge between the two generations. It marks the end of the Switch era and teases what's possible ahead.
If Gen 10 takes the leap many are hoping for, it could end up being the boldest mainline Pokémon game in years.
We should get a clearer picture soon with the Nintendo Direct on April 2 set to showcase the Switch 2. Gen 10 isn't likely to take the lead. The Pokémon Company probably wants all eyes on Z-A for now.
For now, the message is pretty clear: enjoy Z-A while it lasts.
When the next mainline Pokémon game arrives, it'll usher in a new era and leave the old Switch behind.