Pokemon Generation 3 Source Code Leak Reveals Scrapped Features and Beta Pokemon Names

Earlier this week, the source code for several landmark titles in the Pokémon Generation 3 series—including Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen—was reportedly leaked online.

Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, these beloved mainline entries originally launched for the Game Boy Advance, with Ruby and Sapphire debuting on November 21, 2002.

The source code dump, first appearing on 4chan, has since attracted a wave of attention from romhackers, dataminers, and dedicated fans eager to dig into decades-old development secrets. One such fan, known online as Eclipse, has been diligently sharing key findings through a public Twitter thread.

Among the most notable discoveries are early beta names for several iconic Pokémon species.

For example, the enigmatic Mythical Pokémon Jirachi was originally called "Ganboo" during development, while the DNA-based Deoxys bore the codename "Jiigen." Additionally, the electric duo Plusle and Minun were internally referred to as "Bachin" and "Bachikone," respectively.

These names offer a fascinating look at the creative process at Game Freak during the early 2000s. The leaked files go beyond just naming conventions.

Index numbers in the code reveal that as many as 68 Pokémon species may have been planned for inclusion but were ultimately scrapped before release.

While detailed sprites or move sets for these unused creatures have not yet been found, the sheer volume underscores the scale of development decisions that shaped the final roster. An especially interesting detail found in the source code is a note about the initially planned release date for Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire.

The project timeline indicates a target launch of March 17, 2003—several months later than the actual retail release.

This discrepancy could suggest that Game Freak completed development ahead of schedule, allowing Nintendo to bring these classics to market sooner. The leak also sheds new light on scrapped gameplay features.

For instance, Pokémon Contests—a fan-favorite mechanic introduced in Generation 3—were intended to be more elaborate.

Early versions of the contests included additional stats and a system where different judges would have individual "favorite Pokemon Types" and "favorite Moves," which could have added unique layers of strategy to the feature.

These additions, however, were not included in the final release. Perhaps most intriguing to competitive players and mechanics enthusiasts is a reference to "combined moves" designed for Double Battles.

The code suggests moves such as Ember and Gust could have been fused to create more powerful attacks like Heat Wave.

While this feature remained on the cutting-room floor, the data verifies it was seriously considered—a testament to Game Freak's experimental approach at the time. It's important to note that many of these findings confirm theories held by the data mining community for years, as remnants of the scrapped features have been spotted in previously released builds.

Eclipse, who continues to share updates, has stated that more details may emerge as the community further analyzes the leak. These revelations provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of Nintendo’s greatest franchises.

The Pokémon Generation 3 games remain high points for both nostalgia and innovation among dedicated fans on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and the eShop.

Such insights only grow the appreciation for the careful craftsmanship that defines Game Freak’s legacy.

Pokémon Pokemon Pokemon Generation 3 Game Freak Nintendo Pokemon Ruby Pokemon Sapphire Pokemon Emerald Pokemon Firered Pokemon Leafgreen Eclipse 4chan Twitter