The rumor mill around Pokémon Go just hit a speed bump. Fans had gotten excited after reports circulated that the three starter creatures from the upcoming Pokémon Winds and Waves games, Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua, had already been spotted in the mobile game's code. That would have meant an early arrival for the new generation.
The Pokemod Group, a prominent datamining source for Pokémon Go, pushed back on those claims in an update this afternoon. While the three starters will eventually make their way into the game, there's no confirmed evidence they're arriving imminently. For now, players looking to catch them will need to exercise patience.
The three creatures debuted in the trailer for Pokémon Winds and Waves, which is slated to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. Browt is a monobrowed Grass-type bird, Pombon a flame-furred Fire-type dog, and Gecqua a Water-type lizard. Normally, new starter Pokémon don't become available in Pokémon Go until their mainline games hit shelves.
That said, Pokémon Go has broken its own rules before. Meltan made a surprise appearance in the mobile game before most players even knew the creature existed. Roaming Form Gimmighoul also debuted in Pokémon Go ahead of schedule. So the possibility of an early arrival for the Gen 10 trio wasn't entirely far-fetched.
The timing would have been perfect. Pokémon Go is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this summer and will host Go Fest Global 2026 on July 11 and 12. The event is free for all players this year, a rare move by developer Niantic, and will feature the wide debut of Mega Mewtwo. A surprise reveal of the new starters during such a milestone moment would have been a major draw for the franchise.
For now, that debut remains speculation. Pokémon Go continues to welcome millions of daily players and still hosts the vast majority of known Pokémon species. When the Gen 10 starters eventually arrive, they'll likely be among the game's most anticipated additions in years, whether that comes before or after the Switch 2 launch.
Author Emily Chen: "Dataminers finding nothing doesn't kill the dream, but it does mean players should temper expectations and stop reading tea leaves in the code."
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