New HD Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Footage Fuels Nintendo Switch Port Rumors

A surprisingly clear video showcasing gameplay from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, shared by an official Pokémon account, has sparked speculation among fans that Nintendo Switch ports of these classic titles might be arriving sooner than expected.

Earlier today, the Pokémon Times account on X, which identifies itself as the “Official” Pokémon Information Account, uploaded this notably high-definition clip featuring the beloved Wingull, Peeko, playfully chasing Mr. Briney in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.

A quick look at the comments reveals that many users are questioning the quality of the footage. One comment, translated from Japanese, states, “The color is way too vibrant. It’s definitely the Ruby Sapphire Switch version.”

But what has led fans to suspect that this footage is from a Nintendo Switch port rather than an unofficial emulator? As noted by a user on r/GamingLeaksAndRumors, official Pokémon accounts like Pokémon Times typically do not share emulated footage.

They usually post content that appears much lower in quality. Nintendo is known to take a strong stance against unofficial emulators, and The Pokémon Company likely adheres to Nintendo’s policies by only sharing footage captured on official hardware.

There’s also a simpler reason for this speculation: back in February, dataminer LuigiBlood discovered that the official emulator used for the Nintendo Switch ports of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen also supports ROMs for Pokémon Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald.

Considering that the Switch ports of FireRed and LeafGreen reportedly performed very well despite some complaints about pricing, it seems almost inevitable that ports of Pokémon Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald will follow. At this point, it’s really just a question of when they will be released, not if.