Pokémon fans may have the chance to revisit the Hoenn region later this year.
A new leak claims that Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, and Pokémon Emerald are being prepared for release on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.
The leak comes from gaming insider Shpeshal Nick, who recently stated that the ports are currently planned for a late September or October 2026 release window.
Currently, the ports of Pokemon Ruby/Emerald/Sapphire are planned for late September/October https://t.co/f1JHKXvHjs
— Shpeshal Nick (@Shpeshal_Nick) August 12, 2026
Naturally, there is some room for scepticism. However, this information comes from the same insider that shared early information about the Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console. So, there is some merit behind this source.
Past Leaks Suggest A Nintendo Switch Port Might Actually Be Happening
We should add that there is some additional context behind the rumor. Earlier this year, dataminers discovered references suggesting that Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald were considered for compatibility with the Nintendo Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
The two aforementioned games officially launched on Switch in February, making a potential Hoenn follow-up considerably less surprising.
Details naturally remain scarce. Regardless, if true, the rumor would see three of the most popular Game Boy Advance (GBA) Pokémon games return to modern hardware.
It is still unclear whether the three games would launch together, whether they would be straightforward ports of the original GBA versions, or if they will have any enhancements for modern consoles.
The latest leak also does not provide specific details about features such as online connectivity or Pokémon HOME support.
Released in the early 2000s, Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald introduced players to the Hoenn region. The games showcased features such as Pokémon Abilities, double battles, Natures, and Secret Bases. Emerald also expanded upon the original games with additional story content and the Battle Frontier.