Rumors Emerge of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Coming to Nintendo Switch
- An official Pokémon account shared a high-definition clip from Ruby and Sapphire, raising speculation about a potential Switch release.
- YouTuber That Bald Gamer highlighted that the graphics shown are not achievable on original Game Boy Advance hardware.
- Data miners discovered support for third-generation Pokémon games in recent Switch releases, suggesting ongoing development.
Speculation is brewing among Pokémon fans regarding a possible release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire on the Nintendo Switch. This chatter ignited after an official Pokémon social media account shared a strikingly high-definition clip of gameplay, which is unmistakably not from the original Game Boy Advance.
The clip, lasting 30 seconds, features Wingull, a player-controlled trainer, and Mr. Briney. It garnered attention as fan accounts noted its unusually crisp resolution. According to a tweet from the account Centro LEAKS, “The Pokémon official account has posted a clip of Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire being played on an unknown emulator.” This tweet was posted on September 21, 2026.
YouTuber That Bald Gamer remarked, “This is an official account tweeting out high-res gameplay from Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire. Since these graphics aren’t possible on their original official hardware, I’d say this essentially means Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire ports are coming to the Nintendo Switch in some fashion.”
Adding to the intrigue, it was noted that recordings on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 automatically capture the last 30 seconds of gameplay, matching the exact length of the shared clip. Typically, official channels do not use emulators for promotional content, suggesting that the footage likely does not derive from the games’ original 2002 release.
As reported by Kotaku, dataminers have found that recent Nintendo Switch ports of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen have included ROM support for all third-generation mainline titles, such as Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald. While this does not definitively confirm an upcoming HD port of Ruby and Sapphire, it implies that developments could be in progress.
Furthermore, the re-releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch proved to be immediate best-sellers, with sales exceeding 4 million units within six weeks. This successful launch suggests that a new opportunity to explore the Hoenn region could also receive a favorable reception if priced appropriately.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
