'We Thought It Would Be Fun': Nintendo Has a Whole FAQ on Why It's Selling Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Separately for $20 Each

Nintendo has released a lengthy Q&A nonfiction discussing its upcoming Switch re-releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, and addressed its determination to motorboat them separately — alternatively than arsenic portion of the Nintendo Switch Online service, similar galore different Game Boy Advance titles.

In effect to the question "Why are you handling these classical games differently?" Nintendo writes: "In solemnisation of 30 years of Pokémon, we thought it would beryllium amusive to instrumentality to the eventual versions of the archetypal Pokémon adventures successful the Kanto portion with these peculiar releases."

And successful effect to the question "Will these games besides beryllium coming to the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics collection?" Nintendo replies: "These games are being offered arsenic standalone bundle and are not planned for merchandise arsenic portion of the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics collection."

Neither of these answers look to code the question of wherefore the games could not also be portion of the Switch Online's GBA postulation (as a bully mode for subscribers to entree them astatine nary other cost) oregon wherefore the games are priced astatine $20 each — a outgo that has raised galore fans' eyebrows.

Indeed, the full Q&A reads arsenic a alternatively antiaircraft database of answers to questions Nintendo has anticipated fans volition people rise successful effect to its decision-making here.

"If these titles are meant to observe 30 years of Pokémon, wherefore aren't you releasing the archetypal Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Red Version games that launched 30 years ago?" reads different pre-empted question. "We thought users volition admit the eventual versions of those archetypal adventures, which adhd assorted features and upgrades to the contents of Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version," comes the reply. That's just enough, but past having opened the Red and Blue tin of worms, Nintendo goes connected to pre-empt different fashionable question.

"Will you adhd the archetypal Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version oregon different Pokémon games to the Nintendo Classics collections disposable with Nintendo Switch Online?" It's a question Nintendo fans person asked ever since the archetypal Game Boy titles were announced for Nintendo Switch Online, years ago. In response, Nintendo lists a enactment of Pokémon spin-off games which are already disposable via the service, and past concludes with: "We person thing to denote regarding immoderate different imaginable titles."

One notable effect suggests that Nintendo sees its motorboat strategy for FireRed and LeafGreen arsenic apt a one-off: "What astir different classical games beyond Pokémon titles? Is this the instrumentality of standalone Virtual Console types of offerings?" The response: "We stay focused connected offering classical games done Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack."

But again, different than Nintendo reasoning this solution would beryllium "fun", there's small reasoning fixed present for wherefore FireRed and LeafGreen volition beryllium a costly objection to its accustomed rule.

Of course, Nintendo is improbable to crook astir and accidental to fans that, really, wealth is the crushed wherefore it is doing this — whether that is the motivating origin present oregon not. And of course, contempt immoderate complaints online, these re-launches volition undoubtedly merchantability precise well.

Other fans person suggested that Nintendo is conscionable technically incapable to connection FireRed and LeafGreen via its accustomed Nintendo Switch Online GBA catalog, which typically allows players to load aggregate prevention states and rewind gameplay. Such antics would apt make havoc for The Pokémon Company, by allowing for easier duplication of Pokémon. With conscionable this database of Q&A answers to spell on, though, this remains speculation.

Pokémon volition observe its 30th day adjacent Friday, February 27, with its yearly Pokémon Presents livestream. Tune successful past for more.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social