Fans are excited — and confused — about classic Game Boy Advance games coming back to modern consoles

Two classic Pokémon games — Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version — are coming to the Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2026, as part of the franchise’s 30th-anniversary celebration. These titles originally launched on the Game Boy Advance and let players explore the Kanto region, battle Gym Leaders, and catch the first 151 Pokémon.

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However, something unusual has happened with the listings for these Switch versions: an earlier promise of support for Pokémon Home was removed from Nintendo’s online store pages, leaving many players uncertain about how — or if — they will be able to use this cloud service with the new releases.

What Nintendo Announced

Nintendo officially revealed that FireRed and LeafGreen will launch digitally on Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop at a price of about $19.99 / £16.99 each. Pre-orders and even preloads are already live on the eShop ahead of the official release.

These games are classic remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Green adventure with added content like the Sevii Islands, which were not part of the oldest releases but were introduced in 2004.

Players can enjoy:

  • Local wireless trading and battling with friends nearby
  • Classic storyline, Gym battles, and Kanto exploration
  • Original game features like held items and weather conditions

Importantly, these Switch versions do not use online battle or trade services through the internet — everything stays local rather than over the Nintendo Network.

Pokémon Home Support Flip-Flop

When listings for FireRed and LeafGreen first appeared online, some pages included a line saying “Support for Pokémon HOME is coming soon.” This text suggested that players would be able to transfer Pokémon from these games into Pokémon Home, the cloud-based service that connects many Pokémon titles and lets players store and organize their collections.

But shortly after the listings went live, that reference to Pokémon Home was deleted from the product descriptions, leading to confusion and concern among fans.

Many players worry this means:

  • Pokémon Home compatibility may not be available at launch
  • Completing the National Pokédex could be harder because some Pokémon can only be transferred through Home from older titles

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, not all Pokémon can be caught within the game alone — some require trades with other versions or games. Without Home support, completing the full store list (the National Pokédex) may not be possible on Switch alone, which would disappoint collectors.

Fans React Online

Pokémon fans have strong feelings about this turn of events. Many are excited to replay FireRed and LeafGreen after almost two decades, but some are confused or frustrated about the uncertainty around Home compatibility. Fans noted the deleted mention and are speculating about what it means:

  • Was the reference removed by mistake?
  • Will Home support arrive later in a future update?
  • Or will it never be added at all?

Some players believe Nintendo may clarify the situation during the Pokémon Presents livestream planned around Pokémon Day, which often includes new announcements and updates from The Pokémon Company.

Why This Matters to Players

Pokémon Home is a widely used service that lets players store and share Pokémon from many games. It becomes especially important when trying to:

  • Complete the National Pokédex by gathering Pokémon across multiple titles
  • Move special or event Pokémon between games
  • Keep Pokémon safe in cloud storage for future use

If Home support is missing — or delayed — some collectors and long-time fans may need to rethink how they build and maintain their Pokémon collections.

What to Expect Next

  • FireRed and LeafGreen launch on Switch on February 27, 2026.
  • Nintendo may update the listings or clarify Home support closer to or after launch.
  • Pokémon fans will watch the Pokémon Presents event for news.

For now, the games are confirmed to bring the classic Kanto adventure back to modern consoles, but Pokémon Home compatibility remains unclear — and that’s the big question players want answered as the launch date approaches.

In Short

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are returning to Nintendo Switch, but an earlier promise of Pokémon Home support has been removed from official product descriptions. Players are excited for the classic games — but many are worried about how this change could affect their ability to transfer Pokémon and complete their collections. 

Jonas Muthoni

About the author

Jonas Muthoni

Jonas Muthoni is Chief Editor of The Showbiz Journal, overseeing the publication’s editorial direction and coverage across entertainment, celebrity culture, movies and television, music, lifestyle, fashion, and emerging trends. His work focuses on developing timely, engaging stories while strengthening the publication’s editorial standards and distinct voice. He also oversees content strategy and the continued growth of The Showbiz Journal as a digital entertainment publication.