New Pokémon Unveiled in Pokémon Winds and Waves Leak Following Major Letdown

As the annual competitive Pokémon Worlds event approached, fans were eagerly anticipating any updates on Pokémon Winds and Waves. While the event showcased news for every major Pokémon title, Game Freak’s exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2 was surprisingly missing from the lineup. Thankfully, fresh leaks are providing some tantalizing tidbits for fans to ponder.

The latest leak surfaced on 4chan and is being circulated by well-known Pokémon insiders. It features a screenshot that appears to show the new inventory user interface for Winds and Waves. While it resembles what players might expect, the menu is likely to undergo several tweaks before the final release, especially since the background displays unfinished texture models.

What stands out in this screenshot is the list of Pokémon. Half of them feature generic placeholder art, but two showcase placeholder images of Moltres, the fiery legendary bird from Pokémon Red and Blue. This choice seems intentional, as the accompanying text reads “Gokurakucho,” which translates to “bird of paradise.” There are also entries labeled “Gokurakucho 1” and “Gokurakucho 2,” suggesting either an evolution for Gokurakucho or multiple birds of paradise in Winds and Waves.

Game Freak has a wealth of birds of paradise to draw inspiration from, many of which already resemble Pokémon. Focusing on Indonesian birds of paradise, which the game is rumored to emulate, one standout candidate is the Red Bird of Paradise, or Paradisaea rubra. This vibrant bird shares a color palette similar to Moltres and is as rare as a Legendary in real life. Found only on a few small islands, its population is declining, currently classified as “Near Threatened.”

Of course, this is all speculation—the Moltres icons could simply be placeholder art unrelated to the actual Pokémon. This Moltres-related leak is one of two current rumors about Winds and Waves. The other involves an image claiming to be a “riddle” for the final evolutions of the starter Pokémon Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua, originating from the same leaker who shared the UI screenshot.

The accuracy of these riddles won’t be confirmed until Winds and Waves is officially released, as Game Freak typically keeps final evolutions under wraps until launch. How you interpret this information is up to you, but it certainly offers a fun distraction during this information drought. Personally, I suspect Gecqua’s final form will be some kind of magical creature—perhaps psychic—while Browt is likely to be this generation’s fighting-type Pokémon. Farewell to the cursed fire/fighting starters!

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

The RPG will retain turn-based battles, but they are expected to unfold in a new way.