A new Pokemon game has been revealed, but it's not what fans would likely expect. With 2026 being the 30th anniversary of Pokemon's very first games releasing, players can expect a lot of exciting news this year, with this just being one instance.
Even outside of official announcements, there have been plenty of reasons to be excited as a Pokemon fan in recent history. Leaks from Pokemon Wind and Wave, the believed names of the first Gen 10 games, have been appearing frequently on the internet, with some new reveals made earlier in February. The new Pokemon Wind and Wave leak claims to reveal things like the typing of the Pokemon Gyms, plus the overall theme and environments of the individual islands. While these kinds of things need to be taken with a grain of salt, this new Pokemon game announcement is official.
We Are Officially 1 Month Away From The Biggest Pokemon Announcement of The Past 4 Years
Pokemon Legends: Z-A may officially be wrapped up with a final event in February, and the biggest announcement for the series could follow suit.
New Pokemon Pinball Game Announced
A new Pokemon pinball game has been revealed, but it's not the game that fans of the series are likely thinking of, nor is it a video game. Rather, this is an actual Pokemon pinball machine that's being released in the near future from manufacturer Stern Pinball. The maker has previously created pinball machines based around a wide variety of fandoms and media, like The X-Men, John Wick, Star Wars, and The Walking Dead, to name a few. Now, Pokemon is getting the same treatment.
At the moment, much about the machine remains a mystery, as only its silhouette and a teaser have been revealed. The trailer utilizes the theme song from the original Pokemon anime, which could imply that it's based off of the games and the show, but that's not yet certain. A release date hasn't been announced for the machines yet, nor a full reveal, but interested fans can sign up for a mailing list to be alerted when that changes. Stern Pinball games can often be found in bars and arcades, so fans may be able to find a local spot after the machine releases. Alternatively, buying it to have in one's home could also be an option, though it isn't cheap. The manufacturer notes that its machines have three different variations, with the Pro version selling for $6,999, Premium for $9,699, and the Limited Edition version for $12,999, with only 750 LE units made total.
Pokemon Pinball Machines Are New, But Could Be Nostalgic
In addition to pinball machines being a classic and nostalgic form of gaming, a lot of Pokemon fans could potentially satisfy at least some of their urge for a long-abandoned Pokemon game, Pokemon Pinball. The first Pokemon Pinball released on the Game Boy in 1999, bringing the pinball experience to a digital screen and incorporating elements of the traditional games, like a Pokedex that carried across runs, allowing players to "Catch 'em All." While the title was popular enough to see a sequel on the GBA with Pokemon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire, neither game have been made available through Nintendo Switch Online, nor have they seen a re-release. A lot of fans have been asking for just that, but so far, a number of Pokemon games are still missing from the service.
For now, Pokemon fans will have to be patient while awaiting more details on the pinball machine, as well as other official announcements. The majority of them will likely land at the end of February, when a Pokemon Presents is held in honor of Pokemon Day, and this year, the series' 30th anniversary. In addition to new games, media projects, and merchandise, it's possible that Nintendo and Pokemon could choose to put more classic Pokemon titles on Nintendo Switch Online as part of the celebration, so fans should definitely check in come Pokemon Day.