Hoenn fans, it may be time to warm up the Mach Bike. Reliable leaker Shpeshal Nick is claiming that Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are headed to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 this autumn — and there is enough circumstantial evidence sitting behind the rumour to make it worth paying close attention to.
What Shpeshal Nick Claims
On 12 August, Nick posted on X that ports of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are currently planned for late September or October 2026. He did not specify whether the three games would arrive simultaneously or be staggered, and no pricing or eShop details were given. The Pokémon Company has not commented.
Nick’s track record gives the claim weight. He accurately leaked the Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console and the 40th Anniversary Pro Controller before either appeared officially — so while his word is not law, the history is hard to dismiss outright.
The Evidence Behind the Rumour
Two pieces of supporting evidence make this rumour feel credible rather than speculative:
Dataminer discovery: Shortly after Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen launched on Switch on Pokémon Day (27 February 2026), dataminers found connectivity strings inside those ports explicitly referencing Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. The same kind of inter-game linking existed in the original GBA releases, and the presence of that code in the Switch versions suggests Game Freak built in hooks for Hoenn games that were already in the pipeline.
Rayquaza marketing push: The Pokémon Company has been running a high-visibility Rayquaza campaign through mid-2026 — Mega Rayquaza anchored the Pokémon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies expansion (July 30) and the TCG Storm Emeralda set (with Mega Rayquaza ex). Rayquaza is the cover legendary of Pokémon Emerald. A coordinated card push without a game announcement would be unusual; a push that dovetails with an eShop port would be textbook Pokémon Company marketing.
The FireRed/LeafGreen Blueprint
The Gen 3 ports would almost certainly follow the approach Nintendo used for FireRed and LeafGreen in February 2026: faithful recreations of the GBA originals, slightly upscaled for Switch resolution, with no remade visuals or added features beyond eShop convenience. FRLG cost US$19.99 each — equivalent to roughly S$26–27 at current eShop rates for Singapore. Expect similar pricing for Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald if they arrive.
What This Would Mean for Singapore Trainers
If the ports are real, Singapore players should expect:
- Nintendo eShop download only — as with FRLG, no physical cartridge is likely
- SGD pricing around S$26–30 per game based on the FRLG precedent
- Nintendo Switch Online not required to play, though it may unlock connectivity features
- Pokémon HOME compatibility likely to follow — the October HOME 4.1.0 update already confirmed expanded Gen 1 (FRLG) connectivity; Gen 3 linking would be a natural next step
One important caveat: these would almost certainly be digital-only Switch ports of the original GBA releases — not remakes. If you were hoping for Hoenn reimagined in the Legends style, this isn’t that. What you would get is the authentic 2003–2004 experience on a modern screen, which for many players is exactly what they want.
Neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company has confirmed anything. Treat this as a strong, evidence-backed rumour until an official announcement lands. We will update this post if that happens. Keep an eye on our news section for any Pokémon Presents developments.