In what may be the most significant revelation from the ongoing Pokémon Teraleak saga, documents allegedly from director Shigeru Ohmori’s 2021 planning files have exposed Generation 10’s official titles, regional setting, and core themes. According to the leaked materials spreading across social media, the next mainline Pokémon games will be called Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Waves, launching in 2026 as Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives. The titles center around an Infinity theme and take place in a region inspired by Indonesia and Southeast Asia, contradicting previous rumors about Greece or Mediterranean settings.
The Indonesia and Southeast Asia Setting
The leaked documents explicitly state that Pokémon Wind and Waves draw inspiration from Indonesia and the broader Southeast Asian archipelago, with multiple islands playing a central role in the game’s geography. This tropical setting naturally complements the Wind and Waves naming convention, as the Indonesian region consists of over 17,000 islands surrounded by ocean. The protagonist reportedly hails from a large city inspired by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, suggesting the game will blend urban and natural environments similar to how previous generations mixed cities with wilderness areas.
Screenshots allegedly from early development builds show lush jungle environments with towering trees, tropical foliage, and Pokémon scattered throughout vibrant landscapes. One image displays a panoramic view of the region’s biodiversity, while another shows multiple Pokémon going about their daily routines with health bars indicating hidden creatures lurking in dense vegetation. The visual style appears to utilize a new graphics engine built specifically for Switch 2, promising significant improvements over Scarlet and Violet’s troubled performance on original Switch hardware.
Weather Moves: The New Battle Mechanic
| Generation | Battle Gimmick | Core Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6 | Mega Evolution | Temporary powerful transformations during battle |
| Gen 7 | Z-Moves | One-time devastating attacks powered by Z-Crystals |
| Gen 8 | Dynamax/Gigantamax | Growing to massive size with enhanced HP and moves |
| Gen 9 | Terastallization | Changing type to gain offensive/defensive advantages |
| Gen 10 | Tenko-Waza (Weather Moves) | Manipulating weather conditions for strategic benefits |
The new battle mechanic for Generation 10 is reportedly called Tenko-Waza, which machine translations suggest means Weather Moves. While the exact functionality remains unclear due to translation limitations and incomplete documentation, the concept appears to revolve around manipulating weather conditions during battle for strategic advantages. This would represent a significant expansion of weather mechanics that have existed in Pokémon since Generation 2 but never served as the central gimmick defining competitive battling.
The Infinity Theme and Seed Pokémon
According to the leaked documents, Generation 10’s overarching theme centers on Infinity, suggesting philosophical questions about endless possibilities, eternal cycles, or boundless potential. One particularly intriguing detail mentions a Seed Pokémon species with infinite evolutionary variations depending on which island it visits. The documentation describes this creature as a baby Pokémon found in resort areas, with nobody having witnessed its evolved form. When it travels to the island where the main legendary Pokémon resides, it begins evolving into forms with supposedly infinite visual variations.
This Seed Pokémon concept could represent a revolutionary approach to Pokémon design, potentially utilizing procedural generation to create unique evolutionary outcomes for each player. Such a system would align with broader leaks suggesting Wind and Waves will incorporate light MMO features and procedurally generated island content, moving beyond the static world design of previous generations toward more dynamic, player-specific experiences.
Director Shigeru Ohmori Returns
The leaked planning documents allegedly come from Shigeru Ohmori, the veteran Game Freak director who led development of Pokémon Sun and Moon, Sword and Shield, and Scarlet and Violet. Ohmori’s 2021 documentation reportedly outlined the initial vision for Generation 10, though game concepts inevitably evolve during multi-year development cycles. His continued involvement suggests Game Freak trusts his direction despite Scarlet and Violet’s technical struggles, though the Switch 2 exclusivity should allow his team to create the experience they envisioned without battling original Switch hardware limitations.
Ohmori previously introduced regional forms with Alola, brought max raid battles to Galar, and created Paldea’s open-world structure. His directorial style emphasizes ambitious new features even when technical execution struggles to match creative vision. With Switch 2’s increased processing power, Ohmori may finally have hardware capable of realizing concepts like procedurally generated islands, seamless open worlds, and the mysterious infinite variations promised for the Seed Pokémon.
Switch 2 Exclusivity and Graphics Engine
Unlike Pokémon Legends: Z-A which releases on both original Switch and Switch 2 with enhanced features for the newer hardware, Wind and Waves reportedly skip the aging original Switch entirely. This exclusivity allows Game Freak to build the experience specifically for Switch 2’s capabilities without compromising design to accommodate seven-year-old hardware. The leaked screenshots show dramatically improved visual fidelity compared to Scarlet and Violet, with better textures, lighting, draw distance, and environmental detail.
A new graphics engine built specifically for these games promises to address the performance issues that plagued recent Pokémon releases. Scarlet and Violet’s frequent frame drops, pop-in problems, and visual glitches damaged the franchise’s reputation and demonstrated that Game Freak had pushed original Switch hardware beyond reasonable limits. Starting fresh with Switch 2 as the baseline allows developers to implement ambitious features like seamless multiplayer integration, vast procedurally generated islands, and complex weather systems without constant technical compromises.
The 2026 Release Window
According to the leaked roadmap, Pokémon Wind and Waves target 2026 for release, aligning perfectly with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. The franchise launched in Japan on February 27, 1996, meaning Generation 10 could arrive exactly 30 years later as a celebration of three decades dominating the gaming industry. This timing also gives Game Freak sufficient development time following Legends: Z-A’s October 2025 launch, avoiding the rushed production that contributed to Scarlet and Violet’s technical problems.
The documents additionally mention DLC planned for 2027, suggesting Game Freak learned from Scarlet and Violet’s Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expansion model. Rather than cramming all content into launch, the studio apparently plans post-release expansions that add new islands, Pokémon, storylines, and features over the game’s lifespan. This live service approach keeps players engaged while generating ongoing revenue beyond initial sales.
Procedural Generation and MMO Features
Perhaps the most radical departure from traditional Pokémon design, the leaks claim Wind and Waves will incorporate procedural generation for various islands and light MMO features. Procedural generation could create unique layouts, Pokémon distributions, and encounters for each player, dramatically increasing replayability and making every adventure feel personal. The MMO elements reportedly allow players to see others exploring the same islands in real-time, though specifics about interaction mechanics remain unclear from the leaked documents.
This shift toward more dynamic, multiplayer-focused design reflects broader industry trends but represents risky innovation for Pokémon’s traditionally structured gameplay. Fans appreciate the series’ careful balance between innovation and tradition, so dramatic changes like procedural generation could face resistance from purists who prefer handcrafted environments with deliberate placement of every trainer, item, and Pokémon. The success of these features depends entirely on execution quality and whether they enhance rather than dilute the core Pokémon experience.
Credibility and Caveats
While Centro Leaks and other sources sharing this information have strong track records with Pokémon rumors, several factors warrant skepticism. The documents allegedly date to 2021, meaning four years of development could have completely changed core concepts, mechanics, titles, or settings. Game Freak may have scrapped the Indonesia inspiration for different regions, renamed the games, or abandoned weather-based mechanics in favor of alternative battle gimmicks.
Additionally, the information comes from the same hacker responsible for last year’s Teraleak, raising questions about whether releasing this data serves strategic purposes beyond simple information sharing. The timing just days before Legends: Z-A launches maximizes disruption to Game Freak’s marketing plans and demonstrates that Nintendo’s legal efforts to identify perpetrators have failed. Trusting information from malicious actors with potential motivations beyond transparency requires appropriate caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Pokémon Gen 10 game titles?
According to leaked documents from 2021, Generation 10 will be titled Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Waves, though these names could change during development before the reported 2026 release.
Where is Pokémon Wind and Waves set?
The leaked planning documents from director Shigeru Ohmori explicitly state the region is inspired by Indonesia and Southeast Asia, featuring multiple tropical islands. This contradicts earlier rumors about Greece or Mediterranean settings.
What is the new battle mechanic for Gen 10?
The documents mention Tenko-Waza, which translates to Weather Moves, suggesting a battle system revolving around manipulating weather conditions for strategic advantages. Exact functionality remains unclear from leaked materials.
Will Gen 10 be on original Nintendo Switch?
No, the leaks indicate Pokémon Wind and Waves will be Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives, unlike Legends: Z-A which releases on both systems. This allows Game Freak to optimize specifically for newer hardware without compromises.
When will Pokémon Wind and Waves release?
The leaked roadmap targets 2026, perfectly aligning with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary on February 27, 2026. Post-launch DLC is reportedly planned for 2027.
What is the Seed Pokémon mentioned in leaks?
Documentation describes a baby Pokémon species found in resort areas that evolves into forms with infinite variations when it travels to legendary Pokémon islands. This could involve procedural generation creating unique evolutions for each player.
How credible are these Gen 10 leaks?
The information comes from sources with strong Pokémon leak track records, allegedly from Game Freak’s 2021 planning documents. However, concepts from four years ago may have changed significantly during development, so details could differ from final products.
A Glimpse Into Pokémon’s Future
Pokémon Wind and Waves represents Game Freak’s vision for the franchise’s future, incorporating ambitious features like procedural generation, MMO elements, Switch 2 exclusivity, and revolutionary mechanics around the Seed Pokémon’s infinite evolution variations. The Indonesia and Southeast Asia setting offers rich cultural inspiration distinct from previous regions, while the Infinity theme suggests philosophical depth beyond simple catch-and-battle gameplay. Whether these 2021 plans survive to 2026 launch unchanged remains uncertain, but the leaked documentation provides fascinating insight into how Game Freak conceptualizes the series’ evolution across hardware generations and decades of Pokémon history.