The three starter Pokémon from the forthcoming Pokémon Winds and Waves games may arrive in Pokémon Go far sooner than anyone expected, according to dataminers combing through the mobile game's latest updates.
Browt, the Grass-type bird, Pombon, the Fire-type dog, and Gecqua, the Water-type lizard, were officially revealed in the Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves announcement trailer. The mainline games themselves won't hit Nintendo Switch 2 until 2027, but evidence now suggests these Generation 10 starters could appear in Pokémon Go much earlier, potentially within the next year or two.
Datamining discoveries posted on the Pokémon Go community hub TheSilphRoad have flagged the first evidence of all three creatures being added to the game's code. While developer Niantic typically releases new Pokémon species in the mobile game around the same time they launch in mainline titles, debuting starters this far in advance would shatter precedent. No starter Pokémon have ever become obtainable before their associated core games' release.
That said, Pokémon Go has already bent its own rules. Meltan appeared in the game with virtually no warning, shocking players with an entirely new species they'd never encountered before. Roaming Form Gimmighoul similarly debuted in Pokémon Go ahead of its mainline appearance. Both moves proved the game could introduce new creatures on its own schedule when Niantic saw fit.
Timing matters here. Pokémon Go is approaching its 10-year anniversary, arriving this summer with massive fanfare. The game still draws millions of daily players despite its age, making it an ideal promotional platform for fresh content. Go Fest Global 2026, scheduled for July 11 and 12, will be free for all players as part of the anniversary celebration and will feature the debut of Mega Mewtwo. That kind of moment could set the stage for introducing the Winds and Waves starters to the broader community.
If the trio do land in Pokémon Go before 2027, it would represent a seismic shift in how the franchise handles new generation launches. The mobile game's reach and cultural prominence mean Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua could become household names years before console players get their hands on them. For now, though, the discovery remains speculation rooted in code rather than any official announcement from Niantic or The Pokémon Company.
Author Emily Chen: "Early datamines on starters always spark wild theories, but Pokémon Go has shown it's willing to break its own precedents when the stakes and audience are right."
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