Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will arrive on Nintendo Switch next week as standalone $20 purchases, breaking from Nintendo's subscription model for retro releases.
The Game Boy Advance remakes are scheduled to launch on February 27 immediately following the Pokémon Presents livestream, marking the franchise's 30th anniversary with a controversial pricing strategy that has divided fans.
Nintendo confirmed both versions will be available as download-exclusive through the eShop, with no physical copies planned outside Japan. Each will cost $19.99 individually, requiring $40 to own both FireRed and LeafGreen, the same price as a full year of basic Nintendo Switch Online membership.
The unusual approach was detailed in a support FAQ, stating "In celebration of 30 years of Pokémon, we thought it would be fun to return to the ultimate versions of the original Pokémon adventures in the Kanto region with these special releases." This marks a departure from Nintendo's typical practice of adding classic releases to its subscription service catalog.
Fans have expressed frustration across social media platforms about paying separately for these remakes that many expected would join the Nintendo Switch Online library. One user called the $20 price point "ABSOLUTELY disgusting for GBA ports," while others questioned why these wouldn't be added to "the mediocre list of GBA releases that Expansion Pack subscribers are already paying for."
Despite criticism, some players welcome the opportunity to own classic releases without subscription requirements.
The remakes will support local wireless connectivity for trading and battling through Pokémon Centers' Wireless Club feature, though online multiplayer will remain unavailable. Both will run on original Switch hardware and the upcoming Switch 2 console.
The 2004 remakes will preserve their original pixel-art graphics while adding modern conveniences like local co-op without requiring Game Link Cables. Players will be able to transfer captured creatures to other compatible releases through Pokémon Home integration, though most from these Generation I adventures appear throughout later series entries.
Pre-orders are currently live on the eShop with automatic downloads scheduled for release day. The Pokémon Presents presentation begins February 27 at 6 AM Pacific Time (9 AM Eastern), with FireRed and LeafGreen becoming available immediately after the broadcast concludes.
