Nintendo Skips Pokémon Red and Blue, Brings FireRed and LeafGreen to Switch for 30th Anniversary

Nintendo has not included original Pokémon Red and Blue in its strategic plan but instead introduced new improvements to the games as a remake in the 30th anniversary of the franchise.

Anniversary Surprise  

The 2004 Game Boy Advance releases, Pokémon FireRed and Leafgreen, which sold more than 2 million copies in Japan in 2011, will be sold digitally on the Nintendo eShop on February 27, 2026 (the date known as Pokémon Day) at $19.99 each. 

Pre-orders are already acquired and the titles will open local multiplayer trading and combat and future addition of Pokémon HOME to increase the Kanto nostalgia. 

There will be no game discs or Internet playing, which will maintain the concept of the original Game Boy Advance.

Why Skip the Originals?  

As per the answer to the question of reasons Nintendo left them out, the company envisioned that the consumers would appreciate ultimate versions which have added features and improvements. 

Therefore, independent releases of Pokemon Red and Blue were not done. 

The move was further put into context by the fact Nintendo categorized the titles as Nintendo Classics on the Game Boy platform and that no announcements about the ports would be made, with a focus being put on NES and SNES (NSO) classics and new ports to the platform being given low priority. 

The decision is strategically correct, with the original releases not having the Sevii Islands and without the modernisations that have made FireRed and LeafGreen the fan favourites.

What’s Next?  

The move preannounces further Game Boy Advance releases, like Pokémon Emerald, on the Switch, although Pakémon Red and Blue will likely remain only on NSO, or may eventually be replaced by remake deluxe. 

With its iconic popularity, it seems that Nintendo is playing it safe by investing in paid upgrades, rather than free releases, thus, trying to make a profit the entire year-long of the 30th anniversary. The fans are also advised to pre-order since the content of Kanto is still demanded.