A new report from CentroLeaks claims that the unannounced title Pokemon Winds and Waves will be directed by Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku and is slated as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
The story, published August 12, 2026, frames the purported appointments as notable within the Pokémon development landscape.
Pokemon is a long-running franchise developed primarily by Game Freak and managed by The Pokémon Company, with Nintendo responsible for platform publishing on its hardware.
Mainline entries in the series include Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, released in November 2019, and Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, released in November 2022.
Those releases and their accompanying downloadable content (DLC) represent recent examples of how the franchise has been iterated on the Nintendo Switch platform and through Nintendo Direct announcements.
CentroLeaks reported that Hiroyuki Tani—credited by the outlet as having directed DLC for Pokemon Sword and Shield—and Katsuhiko Ichiraku—identified as having directed DLC work associated with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet—are attached to Pokemon Winds and Waves.
The report added that the director assignments would be notable because Shigeru Ohmori has led several recent Pokémon generations, making any shift in top-level creative leadership newsworthy.
At present, Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Game Freak have not issued public confirmations regarding Pokemon Winds and Waves or any director-level staffing for the title.
No official release date, platform hardware announcement timeline, or eShop listing has been posted by the publishers.
Historically, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have used Nintendo Direct presentations and official press releases to confirm major franchise entries and platform exclusivity.
Verified context: Pokemon Sword and Shield launched in November 2019, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet arrived in November 2022; Game Freak remains the primary developer for mainline Pokémon games, while The Pokémon Company manages the brand and licensing.
The Nintendo Switch platform hosted these releases and their DLC on the Nintendo eShop.
This article will be updated if and when Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, or Game Freak confirm director credits, release details, or platform status for Pokemon Winds and Waves.
For now, the CentroLeaks report represents an unconfirmed industry leak that has sparked discussion among fans and industry watchers.
The story, published August 12, 2026, frames the purported appointments as notable within the Pokémon development landscape.
Pokemon is a long-running franchise developed primarily by Game Freak and managed by The Pokémon Company, with Nintendo responsible for platform publishing on its hardware.
Mainline entries in the series include Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, released in November 2019, and Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, released in November 2022.
Those releases and their accompanying downloadable content (DLC) represent recent examples of how the franchise has been iterated on the Nintendo Switch platform and through Nintendo Direct announcements.
CentroLeaks reported that Hiroyuki Tani—credited by the outlet as having directed DLC for Pokemon Sword and Shield—and Katsuhiko Ichiraku—identified as having directed DLC work associated with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet—are attached to Pokemon Winds and Waves.
The report added that the director assignments would be notable because Shigeru Ohmori has led several recent Pokémon generations, making any shift in top-level creative leadership newsworthy.
At present, Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Game Freak have not issued public confirmations regarding Pokemon Winds and Waves or any director-level staffing for the title.
No official release date, platform hardware announcement timeline, or eShop listing has been posted by the publishers.
Historically, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have used Nintendo Direct presentations and official press releases to confirm major franchise entries and platform exclusivity.
Verified context: Pokemon Sword and Shield launched in November 2019, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet arrived in November 2022; Game Freak remains the primary developer for mainline Pokémon games, while The Pokémon Company manages the brand and licensing.
The Nintendo Switch platform hosted these releases and their DLC on the Nintendo eShop.
This article will be updated if and when Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, or Game Freak confirm director credits, release details, or platform status for Pokemon Winds and Waves.
For now, the CentroLeaks report represents an unconfirmed industry leak that has sparked discussion among fans and industry watchers.
