Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Are Now Available to Preorder on the Nintendo eShop
Just moments ago, two of the most beloved entries in Pokémon history quietly appeared on the Nintendo eShop in Australia. Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are up for preorder right now ahead of their full release. This seems to have gone live in the past half hour, and fans are already buzzing.
Classic Adventures Return to Switch
Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in the early 2000s, FireRed and LeafGreen are enhanced remakes of the original Red and Green games set in the Kanto region. These versions expanded the world and brought a fresh coat of polish to one of the franchise’s most loved generations. It seems likely the visuals have been sharpened for modern displays, making the game clearer and easier to play on Switch screens – although this has yet to be confirmed.
For those who missed out on its original release on Game Boy Advance, another notable addition is the Sevii Islands, which were not included in the original Red and Blue releases. This expansion adds more scope to the adventure, giving players new areas to explore beyond the core Kanto region. Now these classics are coming back as standalone digital titles on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, letting both new and old players relive the journey to become a Pokémon Champion.
What We Know From the eShop Listings:
- Preorders are live now from the eShop “Coming Soon” section
- Each game is listed at $30 AUD here in Australia
- Both titles are set to launch on 27 February 2026, lining up with Pokémon Day and the 30th anniversary celebrations for the franchise
- The digital releases include the classic games with their original content, including the Sevii Islands and all the familiar leaders, routes, and Pokémon battles
- Pokémon HOME support is noted as coming soon, but it will not be available at launch. That integration is planned for later
- Local wireless battles and trades will work between consoles just like in the originals, but there is no mention yet of cloud save support
- No NSO App Release at Launch
Unlike many past classic Pokémon re-releases, FireRed and LeafGreen do not appear to be launching as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription libraries. The eShop listings suggest these are standalone digital purchases, likely due to the Pokémon HOME features and future connectivity plans, which may not be supported within the NSO emulation framework.
That means if you want to play them on Switch or Switch 2, you will need to buy them outright rather than accessing them through an NSO plan.
Seeing a $30 price tag on what are essentially ports of 20-year-old games is raising eyebrows in the community. Many fans feel that the price is steeper than expected, especially compared to how other classic games have been priced on the eShop. At the same time, nostalgia and the sheer demand for classic Pokémon could mean these titles sell extremely well regardless. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are among the most fondly remembered entries in the series, and releasing them again on modern hardware just ahead of the franchise’s 30th anniversary feels like a perfect fit for Pokémon Day.
There are still a few questions left unanswered, especially around Pokémon HOME support timing and whether any additional quality of life features will be added before or after launch. One thing is clear: These classics are official, they are coming soon, and fans are already lining up to revisit Kanto.
Preorders are live right now on the Australian eShop if you want to lock them in before release.
