Today is the Pokémon 30th anniversary, and The Pokémon Company just dropped some major news. The anniversary Direct hit with new mainline games, a TCG set tease that's going to have collectors talking for months, and enough nostalgia fuel to keep the community busy until summer. Here's everything that was revealed.
If the anniversary set tease has you thinking about your collection, Rare Candy carries Pokémon TCG packs and singles. We'll be ready when the full set drops.
Pokémon Winds & Pokémon Waves — The Next Generation Is Here
The next mainline Pokémon games are officially Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, and the island setting immediately puts them in a different visual space than anything since Sun & Moon. The region looks tropical and open, and the vibe coming off the early footage is warm and relaxed, but that can all change once the big bads are revealed.
The three starters were revealed alongside it.
Browt is the Grass-type: a small, round yellow chick with two big leaf blades sitting above its eyes like eyebrows, dark stubby legs, and a tiny feather tuft on top. The whole design looks like a baby bird that doesn't know it's a Grass-type yet.
Pombon is the Fire-type: a fluffy golden puppy with a full, wild mane and a bright red-orange flame tip at the top of its head. The red shows up across the mane and at its feet too. It looks like a Pomeranian that got dipped in fire. Some are already hoping it ends up like Arcanine.
Gecqua is the Water-type: a dark blue gecko with a lighter blue belly and a water droplet shape centered on its forehead. If you thought Sobble had a thing going with the nervous gecko energy, Gecqua runs with that same vibe but with noticeably more confidence. The eyes are wide, the grin is mischievous, and the whole design looks a little cooler than the Sword & Shield starter.
No release window confirmed yet, but Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves is slated to land sometime in 2027
Pokémon 30th Anniversary TCG Set Tease — Mew & Mewtwo Are Coming
The next anniversary TCG set was teased with two things: hints at classic reprints of major chase cards, and a completely new card style previewed through two pieces featuring Mew and Mewtwo.
The Mew art is iridescent. The whole Pokémon looks like it's made of shifting light, every type energy orb floating around it in a ring. The Mewtwo is deep metallic purple, almost chrome, posed with the same signature intensity and those type orbs scattered around it.
Whether these end up as a new card mechanic, a special insert, or a brand-new rarity is still unknown. What is known is that Mew and Mewtwo cards at any rarity level have historically driven some of the biggest secondary market numbers in the hobby. If this anniversary set delivers on the visual direction these two teases suggest, the chase cards are going to be loud.
More details are coming. Traditionally anniversary sets have dropped in October, so keep an eye out.
Already building your collection ahead of the anniversary set? Browse Pokémon TCG packs at Rare Candy.
Pokémon Game Music Collection — Available Today
The Pokémon Game Music Collection is real, it's physical, and it's available starting today at Pokémon Center.
It's a miniature Game Boy jukebox with 45 cartridges, each containing tracks from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. The device is a scaled-down version of the original Game Boy hardware, and the whole package comes in Red and Blue-themed collector boxes. Available in the US, Canada, and the UK. Not available from Pokémon Center Germany, Australia, or New Zealand, so international collectors should check their regional official store.
Pokémon GO Turns 10 — A Second Chance at Everything You Missed
Pokémon GO's 10th anniversary event is bringing back Pokémon from previous limited-time events for another chance to catch them. The full lineup hasn't been detailed yet, but the framing is clear: if you missed something the first time around, this event is your window.
Paldean Wonders Is Live in Pokémon TCG Pocket
The Paldean Wonders set is now officially available in Pokémon TCG Pocket. Paldean Pokémon in the digital card format, with the app's player base still growing. A new set drop is always a good reason to check back in.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Comes to GameCube Classics
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is coming to Nintendo GameCube Classics on Switch and Switch 2, with a March window confirmed. The game hasn't been officially re-released since the original 2005 GameCube run, so this is a long time coming for anyone who played it and an easier entry point for players who've only heard about it.
Shadow Pokémon, XD001 (Shadow Lugia), and the whole Orre region on a modern system, finally.
Pokémon Champions — The New VGC World Championships Standard
Pokémon Champions is officially the new standard for the Video Game side of the Pokémon World Championships. More gameplay details were shown at the Direct, and it's now the competitive platform going forward. This gives competitive players a cleaner, unified ruleset to build around heading into the next season.
Mega Garchomp Z — Legends Z-A Mega Dimension DLC
Mega Garchomp Z is officially confirmed for the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC, and the design goes hard. The design gives Mega Garchomp more of a flying aesthetic, treating its bladed arms like wings.
You can now go into a new dimension pocket to get your Garchompite Z by defeating the Mega Garchomp Z boss battle in the game.
Pokémon Pokopia — DJ Rotom, Greedent, and Multiplayer
Pokémon Pokopia got a wave of new details, and the picture is getting clearer.
The town's music comes from a Stereo Rotom that goes by DJ Rotom. You can put different CDs into it to change what's playing across your town, which is a small feature that makes the whole space feel more customizable as you build it out.
Greedent is the town chef. You can have it teach you how to cook different meals, and those meals can power up moves in battle, creating a loop between town development and how you play. The more you invest in your town, the stronger your options get.
On the multiplayer side, you can visit other players' towns and connect with up to three other people at the same time across different towns. Town-visiting multiplayer has been on the wishlist for life-sim Pokémon games for a while, and seeing it confirmed here is a genuine quality-of-life win.
Final Thoughts
Pokémon Winds & Waves alone would have made this a big Direct. Add the TCG anniversary set tease and everything across GO, Pocket, the GameCube library, and Pokopia, and there's something here for every corner of the community. The Mew and Mewtwo card art is worth watching closely. A new card style at an anniversary set level. What does that do to the secondary market when the full set drops?
FAQ
What are the new Pokémon starter names for Winds and Waves?
The three starters for Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are Browt (Grass-type), Pombon (Fire-type), and Gecqua (Water-type). All three were officially revealed at the Pokémon 30th anniversary Direct on February 27, 2026.
When does the Pokémon TCG anniversary set release?
No official release date has been announced for the Pokémon 30th anniversary TCG set as of the February 27 Direct. The set was teased with hints at classic reprints and a new card style featuring Mew and Mewtwo. Rare Candy will have singles and packs available at launch. Check rarecandy.com for updates.
What is the Pokémon Game Music Collection?
The Pokémon Game Music Collection is a miniature Game Boy jukebox with 45 cartridges containing music from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. It is available starting February 27, 2026 through Pokémon Center in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Is Paldean Wonders available in Pokémon TCG Pocket now?
Yes. The Paldean Wonders set is officially live in Pokémon TCG Pocket as of the February 27, 2026 announcement.
What is Mega Garchomp Z?
Mega Garchomp Z is a new Mega Evolution form officially revealed for the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC. It features a darker, more armored design with deep navy coloring, red-orange fins, and yellow chevron detailing on the chest.
What is Pokémon Pokopia?
Pokémon Pokopia is an upcoming life-sim Pokémon game with town-building, cooking mechanics with Greedent as your chef, DJ Rotom for customizable town music, and multiplayer town-visiting for up to three players at a time.
