Pokémon Winds and Waves leak points to new leadership for the Switch 2 Gen 10 game
A new Pokémon Winds and Waves leak is adding fuel to one of the biggest conversations in the Pokémon community: whether the next mainline game will bring a major change behind the scenes. According to the latest claim, Game Freak may be shifting leadership for the upcoming Switch 2 title, with Hiroyuki Tani reportedly stepping into the director role and Katsuhiko Ichiraku serving as co-director.
If accurate, this would mark a notable change for the franchise. Shigeru Ohmori has directed several major Pokémon entries over the past decade, including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. While those games introduced an ambitious open-world structure, they also drew criticism for technical problems, uneven performance, and environments that some players felt lacked polish.
The rumored new leadership is already getting attention because both Tani and Ichiraku have worked on projects that many fans view more positively. Tani previously directed the Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion packs, while Ichiraku co-directed content for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s expansion, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.
That expansion was praised by many players for feeling more focused and lively than the base Scarlet and Violet experience. Its smaller scale appeared to allow for more detailed environments, tighter storytelling, and a stronger sense of adventure. For fans hoping Pokémon Winds and Waves delivers a richer and more refined open-world experience, the rumored involvement of Tani and Ichiraku could be a promising sign.
Pokémon Winds and Waves is expected to be the Gen 10 entry for Nintendo’s Switch 2, with a possible 2027 release window. Previous rumors suggest the game may feature a large tropical region filled with islands, ocean routes, and water-based exploration. If those details are true, the title could lean heavily into sea travel, underwater areas, and a new catching mechanic designed around the region’s aquatic theme.
That kind of setting could be exciting, but it also raises big questions about performance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet struggled with frame rate drops, pop-in, and visual issues, which became one of the biggest talking points around the game. With Pokémon Winds and Waves likely aiming for a larger and more ambitious world, fans are hoping the upgraded Switch 2 hardware will allow Game Freak to deliver a smoother and more polished adventure at launch.
There are reasons for cautious optimism. Pokémon Legends: Z-A showed signs of improved technical stability across Nintendo hardware, though its city-based structure is expected to be more contained than the rumored island-filled world of Pokémon Winds and Waves. A sprawling oceanic region with multiple islands and underwater exploration could be far more demanding.
Nintendo has already shared early promotional material for Pokémon Winds and Waves, including a trailer and initial screenshots that were generally well received by fans. The tropical direction, combined with the possibility of new leadership, has helped build early excitement around the next major Pokémon release.
Still, the reported director change remains unconfirmed. Until Game Freak or Nintendo officially reveals more details, fans should treat the information as a leak rather than a confirmed announcement. Even so, the idea of Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku guiding the next mainline Pokémon game has sparked hope that Pokémon Winds and Waves could address long-running concerns while pushing the series forward on Switch 2.
For now, the biggest questions remain: how large will the open world be, how important will underwater exploration become, and can the development team deliver a polished experience from day one? If the rumored leadership change is real, Pokémon Winds and Waves may become one of the most closely watched entries in the franchise’s history.
