Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Footage Sparks Fresh Nintendo Switch Port Speculation

A short video shared by the official Japanese Pokémon account has reignited speculation that the Game Boy Advance classics Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire will eventually arrive on the Nintendo Switch. The clip, posted to social media by The Pokémon Company, appears on the surface to be a lighthearted tribute to one of the series’ most memorable NPCs — Mr. Briney, known in Japan as Old Man Hagi — but eagle-eyed fans have latched onto something more: the footage looks “suspiciously crisp and colourful,” leading many to wonder whether it was sourced from a remastered version of the games running on Nintendo’s latest hardware.

On its own, the post reads as a seasonal celebration. It was tagged with #敬老の日 (Respect for the Aged Day) and #ハギろうじん, a playful nod to the NPC whose name fans have affectionately riffed on. Yet the presentation of the gameplay — the sharpness of the sprites, the vibrancy of the palette — has prompted a wave of online chatter. After all, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen received a similarly elevated visual treatment when they launched on Switch last year, and the two titles have since become one of the most commercially successful entries in the modern franchise.

A Proven Track Record for GBA Remasters

The speculation is not entirely without precedent. When FireRed and LeafGreen were announced, they were controversial at the time, with some fans uneasy about the idea of paying full price for older titles. The concern proved unfounded, however. The pair sold an estimated four million copies within six weeks of their launch, and the $20 price tag for each game did little to stave off demand. Crucially, this success came with remarkably little modernization from Nintendo — beyond the unlocking of certain event tickets, the addition of a swear filter, and the eventual integration of Pokémon Home support.

While Nintendo has said nothing officially about the launch of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire re-releases, new launches for the games on Switch are widely expected.

The Pokémon Company / IGN

That track record is exactly what has fans pointing at the new footage. If FireRed and LeafGreen could be brought forward with minimal changes and still move millions of units, the same logic could apply to Ruby and Sapphire — the third generation of mainline Pokémon, originally released in Japan in 2002 and set in the Hoenn region. Those games introduced fan favorites such as Mudkip, Treecko and Torchic, alongside the legendary Kyogre and Groudon, and remain beloved staples of the franchise’s history.

The community reaction has been swift and enthusiastic. Viewers who recognized the crisp rendering have flooded social platforms with comparisons to the FireRed and LeafGreen Switch versions, treating the clip as potential confirmation of a larger plan. For many, the footage represents more than nostalgia — it is a signal that The Pokémon Company may be circling back to its back catalog with the same confidence it applied to its most recent remaster.

Looking Ahead

Timing, it seems, could be working in the games’ favor. With the Nintendo Switch 2 titles Pokémon Winds and Waves still up to a year away, a Ruby and Sapphire release would land squarely in the back half of 2026 — a period that has historically been lucrative for the franchise heading into the holiday season. That window would give The Pokémon Company another opportunity to bolster its profits while satisfying a clear, demonstrated demand for the Hoenn classics.

Adding to the anticipation is the fact that fans are still awaiting word on when FireRed and LeafGreen will receive Pokémon Home support, with an October timeframe widely anticipated. A Ruby and Sapphire release around the same time would make logical sense, allowing both generations to share the same modern infrastructure. Until then, the crisp footage stands as the strongest unofficial hint yet — and one that has left the community eagerly waiting for an official announcement.

Would you pay $20 to play one of these again?