Pokémon’s FireRed and LeafGreen openings are back on Switch — nostalgia with one glaring question

Why this little opening video actually matters

This caught my attention because a 30‑second nostalgia hit – the official Pokémon channel putting FireRed and LeafGreen side-by-side – is how Nintendo is leading the charge for its 30th anniversary. It isn’t just a cute throwback: it’s the clearest early signal of how these Game Boy Advance classics will land on modern Switch hardware on February 27, 2026.

• Both FireRed and LeafGreen will return to the Nintendo eShop as standalone digital titles on Feb 27 for £16.99 / $19.99 each.
• The short clip highlights “updated graphics” and confirms the Sevii Islands – the GBA remakes’ big addition — will be included.
• Key unknowns remain: whether Pokémon HOME transfers and online multiplayer will be supported — sources disagree.

Breaking down the clip: what it shows (and what it hides)

Pokémon’s official YouTube posted a side‑by‑side video of the two GBA openings on February 20. It’s strictly the nostalgia play: identical beats, pixel‑art shots of Kanto and the League, but with Nintendo’s wording promising “updated graphics” and explicitly calling out the Sevii Islands — content that didn’t exist in the original Red and Blue.

The footage and Nintendo’s storefront screenshots demonstrate how the games will sit on a Switch screen: the familiar GBA palette and pixel work, but scaled and framed for modern displays (official images show the titles running on a Switch OLED). There’s no deeper technical breakdown in that clip — no emulation talk, no frame‑rate claims, no patch notes. It’s a teaser, not a teardown.

Why FireRed/LeafGreen instead of Red/Blue? Nintendo’s reasoning

Several outlets — including Numerama — point out the awkwardness: these 2004 remakes don’t actually line up with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary if you’re being pedantic; the originals debuted in 1996. Nintendo’s answer (via FAQ details reported by Numerama) is practical: FireRed and LeafGreen are the “ultimate” vanilla Kanto package for modern players. They already include color, updated maps and the Sevii Islands expansion — so from a content perspective they’re a richer pick than the raw Red/Blue cartridges.

What gamers should expect at launch

Here’s what multiple outlets have confirmed: both titles will be sold separately on the eShop for about £16.99 / $19.99, preorders are live in some regions, and the release is timed to follow the Pokémon Presents stream on Feb 27. Siliconera notes the releases are Switch 2 compatible, and screenshots suggest local wireless play and the classic Club Inalámbrico structure remain intact.

But don’t grab your Poké Balls just yet: there’s a real conflict between reports on Pokémon HOME and online features. VidaExtra and Numerama mention HOME compatibility and local wireless for up to four players, while Siliconera’s reporting says there’s no Home support at launch and multiplayer is local only. Nintendo’s short video and storefront blurbs haven’t settled this publicly — so expect clarification (or caveats) during the Pokémon Presents broadcast.

The gamer’s perspective: what this move means

On one hand, this is smart and unsurprising: Nintendo is selling a nostalgia package that’s already been polished once. FireRed and LeafGreen package the original Gen 1 design with the added content many fans remember fondly, so they make more sense for a modern digital rerelease than the raw 1996 cartridges.

On the other hand, there are frustrating omissions in communication. “Updated graphics” is marketing speak until Nintendo shows the UI, button mapping, save behavior, online features and whether these purchases talk to the wider Pokémon ecosystem via HOME. Price is reasonable for a digital classic, but buyers will want to know if this is the full, connected experience or primarily single‑player nostalgia in a Switch wrapper.

What to watch next

• Pokemon Presents on Feb 27 (6AM PT / 9AM ET) — likely place for a fuller trailer and official answers on HOME and multiplayer.
• Post‑launch player reports and tech analyses (Digital Foundry or similar) for scaling/emulation behavior on Switch 2.
• Community reaction on Reddit and Discord about price, QoL, and whether Nintendo followed through on promised “updates.”

TL;DR: Nintendo’s nostalgia lever is working — FireRed and LeafGreen are coming back to Switch as digital standalone releases with the Sevii Islands and “updated graphics,” priced at ~£16.99/$19.99 on Feb 27. It’s a sensible pick for the anniversary, but until Nintendo confirms HOME support, online features and deeper technical details, treat this as a nostalgia package first and a fully modernized reissue second.