Fans Upset Over Rumored Price Hike for Pokémon Winds and Waves

The buzz around Grand Theft Auto 6 suggests that if a game is popular enough, companies can set any price they like. Could the same logic apply to Pokémon? With its vast array of games, merchandise, and savvy licensing, Pokémon far surpasses GTA in scale. Fans often shell out more for a single Pokémon card than for a brand-new game. If any franchise could justify a price increase, it’s definitely Pokémon.

This topic has sparked discussions among fans after a prominent Pokémon leaker, Centro, shared what they claimed were internal documents from The Pokémon Company. These documents allegedly stemmed from the significant Game Freak data breach in 2024, which included development plans, design documents, and budget details.

According to Centro, The Pokémon Company is looking to encourage fans to buy both versions of the upcoming generation of games. Traditionally, each new release has been offered as two separate titles, each featuring exclusive Pokémon and gameplay elements. This approach is generally seen as a way to promote social interaction rather than just a profit-driven strategy. Pokémon games already perform exceptionally well in sales, but it’s reasonable to think that the company would be interested in boosting those numbers. Centro noted that around 50% of players for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon purchased both versions.

Centro also mentioned that The Pokémon Company has been eager to raise the price of Pokémon games from the previous $60 mark since the release of Sword and Shield, but they couldn’t do so at that time due to the lack of standardized higher prices in North America.

Given the mixed reception of recent Pokémon titles, fans reacted negatively to the idea of increased prices. Notably, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet faced criticism for being nearly unplayable on the Switch, and the series has dealt with ongoing issues regarding its graphics and production quality. After three decades, the games still lack voice acting.

One fan speculated, “It’s gonna be $80 physical, I bet.” Another chimed in, “I work in a company with board members like this, and they’re so greedy and stupid.”

With a year marked by multiple price hikes in both video game software and hardware, costs are a hot topic among gamers. As companies like Sony shift towards digital sales to enhance profits, financial concerns have become increasingly sensitive for the gaming community. This might explain why Centro’s posts were often misinterpreted as a definitive indication that Game Freak would raise prices for Pokémon Winds and Waves.

However, the documents referenced by Centro were not about the latest Pokémon games. They pertained to discussions from around 2018 regarding Pokémon Sword and Shield, specifically aimed at increasing sales in Japan. Those titles did not see a price increase, so we already know Game Freak’s decision in that context.

As for Pokémon Winds and Waves, there are still no release dates. Between now and their eventual launch, the ongoing component crisis could lead companies like Nintendo to further raise software or hardware prices. We’ve already seen games like Mario Kart World priced at $79.99, making an $80 Pokémon game seem plausible. Nintendo has attempted to balance recent price increases with more affordable first-party digital titles. If pricier Pokémon games do emerge, it could be offset by better console or game bundle deals.

For now, Pokémon fans can rest easy. As far as anyone knows, Winds and Waves will be priced like any standard Switch 2 game.

A series of unrelated leaks suggests that Game Freak’s RPG will feature a scientific theme.