Fans awaiting news on the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive Pokémon Winds and Waves received a glimmer of information through recent leaks, despite the game's absence from the recent Pokémon World Championship event. The leaks, originating from 4chan and amplified by prominent Pokémon leakers, include a screenshot that appears to showcase the game's inventory user interface.
While the menu itself shows placeholder textures, the Pokémon listed within the UI offer more intrigue. Some entries feature generic placeholder art, while others use the likeness of Moltres, the legendary fire bird Pokémon. This choice may be a thematic hint, as the text accompanying these entries translates to "bird of paradise." The presence of "Gokurakucho 1" and "Gokurakucho 2" suggests either an evolution for a bird of paradise-themed Pokémon or the inclusion of multiple such creatures in Pokémon Winds and Waves. The Red Bird of Paradise, native to Indonesia—a region reportedly inspiring Winds and Waves—is a potential candidate, sharing a vibrant color scheme with Moltres and currently classified as "Near Threatened."
MOLTRES, THE LEGENDARY FIRE BIRD POKÉMON, FLIES IN THE SKY.
Beyond the potential bird Pokémon, the leaks also hint at the final evolution stages for the game's starters: Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua. These hints were shared by the same leaker who provided the UI screenshot. While Game Freak typically keeps final evolutions under wraps until release, the provided information suggests that Gecqua's final form might be a psychic or magical creature, and Browt could be the generation's fighting-type monster. The accuracy of these starter evolution riddles remains to be seen until Pokémon Winds and Waves launches in 2027.
THE POKEMON COMPANY VIA 4CHAN
AN IMAGE RIDDLE FROM PURPORTED POKEMON LEAKERS THAT DEPICTS THE FINAL STAGE EVOLUTIONS FOR WINDS AND WAVES' STARTERS.
Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are scheduled to release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.