Pokémon’s 9th generation games marked a significant shift for the franchise, leaving many fans eager to see what Generation 10 will bring. While the official announcement of Generation 10 is only a matter of time, rumors and leaks have kept the Pokémon community buzzing with speculation about the series’ future.
As the Gen 9 era appears to be nearing its conclusion, players are shifting their focus to what lies ahead. Prominent leakers have recently hinted at potential details about Generation 10, sparking discussions across the fandom. While these leaks and rumors remain unconfirmed, they have fueled excitement about possible insights into the new region’s theme and a tentative release window. Fans intrigued by these hints are already eagerly anticipating official updates from Game Freak or The Pokémon Company.
Are Pokemon Generation 10 Leaks to be Believed?
One of the most anticipated announcements in every new Pokémon generation is the real-world location that will inspire the next region. While the early Pokémon games were rooted in Japanese-inspired settings, the franchise began expanding its horizons with Generation 5, incorporating regions influenced by the United States and Europe. Game Freak has even started including Easter eggs referencing other regions—sometimes even those that haven’t been explored yet. This has led fans to search for clues about Generation 10’s inspiration long before Scarlet and Violet were officially released.
When some players obtained early copies of the Generation 9 games, leaked images began circulating online. One particular leak showed the player interacting with a picture supposedly depicting a different region. Fans quickly began drawing connections to various European locations, including Spain, Italy, France, and even Germany. This fueled speculation that Generation 10 might be set in one of these countries.
Because generation 9 was set in Spain and generation 6 was set in France, those two possibilities were quickly ruled out, leaving only Italy and Germany as strong contenders.
The theory surrounding Pokémon’s next region recently gained traction. On October 1st, prominent Pokémon leaker Riddler Khu, known for accurate predictions in the past, shared a cryptic tweet. The tweet read “New Project Hint” accompanied by the ‘folded hands’ emoji. This emoji is often interpreted as either praying hands or a high-five. Fans quickly jumped into speculation, trying to decode the hint.
One popular theory suggests the emoji’s ten fingers could symbolize the upcoming Generation 10 games. Another interpretation links the praying hands to Vatican City in Italy, home to the Catholic Church, hinting that the new region might be inspired by Italy. In the tweet’s replies, many fans agreed that the clue seemed to point toward Generation 10 and an Italian-inspired region. Khu appeared to validate this theory, commenting, “Checked the replies, few people nailed it so quickly, lol, good job.”
However, it’s important to note that while Khu has a track record of reliable leaks, their hints are not officially confirmed by Game Freak or The Pokémon Company. As such, these theories remain speculative for now.
Gen 10 Rumors are Making the Rounds
While the regional leaks are backed by a well-known figure, other circulating rumors lack a clear source and seem to stem from speculation about Game Freak’s past trends and future plans. Following Generation 9’s focus on co-op gameplay, some fans believe that Generation 10 will expand even further into co-op features. While this idea is plausible, others argue that the buggy and unfinished state of Scarlet and Violet at launch could worsen with a stronger emphasis on co-op gameplay. This has led to speculation that Generation 10 might mark the end of Pokémon’s experimentation with open-world mechanics. Some even suggest a possible return to a 2D art style for the series.
Another significant rumor revolves around the timing of the next game’s announcement and release. Riddler Khu hinted that the Generation 10 games could launch shortly after the debut of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is expected to be revealed in the coming months. However, with no official news about Generation 10 so far, a 2025 release seems unlikely. Instead, many fans anticipate a 2026 launch, potentially aligning with the Pokémon series’ 30th anniversary, making it a fitting milestone for the franchise.