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Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are announced as Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives arriving worldwide in 2027, while Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet released in 2022 and are listed for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan. The new games have a newly described open world of islands and ocean, three announced starters, and different protagonist outfits by version. A detailed comparison of battles, performance, graphics, or version-exclusive content is not possible yet: the announcement warns that not all footage represents actual gameplay.
Confirmed differences at a glance
| Comparison | Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves | Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet |
|---|---|---|
| Release | Simultaneous worldwide release in 2027 is announced; no exact date is given in the cited sources. | Released November 18, 2022. |
| Platform | Announced as exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. | The Japanese official product listing specifies Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. |
| Setting | An open world of windswept islands and a vast ocean, with lush environments, regional Pokémon ecosystems, and forces of nature that may obstruct the journey. | The official product listing cited here does not provide a directly comparable description of the world. |
| Protagonist outfits | Outfits differ by version: Winds shows a light-colored outfit with a wide-brim hat, while Waves shows a blue-cap outfit. | The cited product listing does not establish a comparable outfit detail. |
| Starters | Browt (Grass, Bean Chick Pokémon), Pombon (Fire, Puppy Pokémon), and Gecqua (Water, Water Gecko Pokémon). | The cited product listing does not enumerate the starters. |
| Gameplay details | The announcement cautions that not all footage represents actual gameplay; final mechanics are not detailed in these sources. | The official listing identifies the genre and player/connectivity options, but does not provide a complete mechanics comparison. |
Sources: The Pokémon Company announcement, Nintendo’s Winds listing, and the Japanese Scarlet and Violet product information.
What the new games’ setting and reveal establish
The announcement describes an open world featuring islands and ocean. It also refers to regional Pokémon ecosystems and natural forces that can obstruct the journey. Those descriptions establish the revealed setting and themes, but they do not define the systems behind them: the sources do not explain how environmental obstacles work or how exploration will unfold.
The Pokémon Company described the world this way: “These new titles feature an open world to explore, with beautiful windswept islands and a vast ocean with glittering waves that ebb and flow.” That is the publisher’s description, not an independently verified assessment of final gameplay.
#1 Best Overall
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
Starters and version differences
The three announced starter Pokémon are Browt, a Grass-type Bean Chick Pokémon; Pombon, a Fire-type Puppy Pokémon; and Gecqua, a Water-type Water Gecko Pokémon. The announcement also confirms that the protagonist’s outfit differs between Winds and Waves.
That is the extent of the version-specific information established in these sources. They do not confirm other version-exclusive Pokémon, story changes, or edition differences, so it is too early to infer those from the two announced outfits.
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- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
Platforms and release timing
Winds and Waves
Both games are announced for worldwide release in 2027 and are listed as Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives. The cited announcements provide no exact launch day, preorder timing, price, or bundle details.
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Scarlet and Violet
The Japanese official product information gives November 18, 2022 as the release date and lists Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility. It also identifies the games as role-playing games, with single-player play and two-to-four-player battle and trade features, using local and internet communication. These details are specific to that official Japanese listing; check the listing for the region where you plan to buy or play.
Rank #3
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
What cannot yet be compared reliably
The reveal does not establish final resolution, frame rate, performance, battle-system changes, the complete Pokédex, or a full feature-by-feature comparison with Scarlet and Violet. Its explicit warning that not all footage represents actual gameplay means trailer images alone are not proof of a graphical upgrade or of technical problems being fixed.
The official announcement says more information will come later. Until those details are published, claims about a technical leap, final mechanics, or the full set of version differences would go beyond what is confirmed.
Scarlet and Violet’s launch-period sales figure
Nintendo’s investor presentation, published February 7, 2023, reported 18.2 million combined units sold through for Scarlet and Violet during their first seven weeks after release, describing the launch as the fastest start of any title for a Nintendo dedicated video game platform. This is a historical seven-week figure, not a current lifetime sales total. See Nintendo’s investor presentation for the nine-month period ended December 2022.
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