If you’ve gotten used to knowing everything about new Pokémon games months before they launch, I’ve got bad news: those days are over.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A dropped in October 2025 and just got its Mega Dimension DLC a couple of weeks ago. While the game still has plenty of events and content coming, most fans are already looking ahead to Pokémon Gen 10—rumored to be titled Pokémon Wind and Wave—expected sometime between October and November 2026.
But here’s the thing: unlike every recent Pokémon game, Gen 10 probably won’t leak. And neither will Pokémon Legends: Galar, the recently leaked project that’s supposed to follow it.
The reason? The Nintendo Switch 2 has basically locked down datamining in a way the original Switch never could.
Why Pokémon Games Have Leaked So Much Until Now
Let’s be real—Pokémon games have been an open book for leakers over the past few years.
Recent leak highlights:
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet — The entire Pokédex, stats, locations, and evolution methods leaked before launch
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A — All Mega Evolutions leaked months early, DLC Pokédex datamined at launch, Mega Zeraora leaked almost a year before reveal
- The Teraleak — Massive Game Freak breach revealed early concept art, scrapped features, and future project details
The Nintendo Switch’s encryption was relatively easy to crack, which made datamining a huge part of Pokémon culture. Fans got used to knowing starters, evolutions, stats, and entire Pokédexes before games even hit shelves.
That era? It’s officially over.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Basically Unhackable (For Now)
Here’s where things get interesting—and frustrating if you’re a leak enthusiast.
Why the Switch 2 changes everything:
🔐 New encryption keys that haven’t been cracked
The Switch 2 uses advanced security that experts say could take years to break through, if it’s even possible at all.
🚫 No datamining for upcoming games
Renowned Pokémon leak aggregator Centro Leaks flat-out called the Switch 2 “unhackable,” stating that no game after Pokémon Legends: Z-A will have data, stats, or Pokédex entries leaked before launch.
⏳ Dataminers say it’ll take years
Notorious Pokémon dataminer Anubis (@Sibuna_Switch) believes that cracking the Switch 2 for datamining “won’t happen for years,” if at all.
So what does this mean for fans?
Pokémon Gen 10 Starters and Pokédex Won’t Leak in 2026
Get ready for a completely different experience when Pokémon Wind and Wave (or whatever Gen 10 ends up being called) launches in late 2026.
What you WON’T know ahead of time:
- ❌ Starter Pokémon evolutions
- ❌ Full Pokédex roster
- ❌ New Pokémon stats and abilities
- ❌ Evolution methods and locations
- ❌ Hidden features or mechanics
The only leaks we might see come from residual Teraleak data—early concept art and design documents from years ago. But these won’t be reliable, since Game Freak’s plans change constantly during development.
Translation: No more spoiling yourself months in advance. You’ll actually have to play the game to discover what’s in it.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Was the End of an Era
Pokémon Legends: Z-A may go down in history as the last heavily leaked Pokémon game.
What leaked before and after PLZA’s release:
✅ All Mega Evolutions revealed months early
✅ Confirmation that no new species or forms (outside Megas) would appear
✅ Entire DLC Pokédex datamined at base game launch
✅ Mega Zeraora leaked almost a year before official reveal
Compare that to what we’ll get with Gen 10: basically nothing concrete until Game Freak or Nintendo officially announces it.
Pokémon Legends: Galar Might Stay a Mystery for Years
Remember when Pokémon Legends: Galar got leaked in the Teraleak 2.0 back in October? The documents mentioned it would take place in ancient Galar before the first Poké Ball was ever created.
Here’s the problem: that might be all we ever know until Game Freak decides to reveal it.
Why Legends Galar is in trouble:
- No official confirmation — It could still be scrapped with zero public notice
- Switch 2 exclusivity — Can’t be datamined like previous games
- Early development stage — The leaked concepts are from years ago and may not reflect the final product
- Possible 2027-2028 release — Meaning we’re looking at years of radio silence
Unlike Gen 10, which will at least get official marketing and trailers leading up to launch, Legends: Galar might not exist at all, and we’d have no way of knowing.
What Game Freak Gains From No More Leaks
From a developer’s perspective, this is actually a huge win for Game Freak.
Benefits of the Switch 2’s security:
✅ Genuine surprises return — Players will discover new Pokémon naturally
✅ Less pressure on marketing — They don’t have to compete with leaks
✅ Flexibility in development — They can change features without backlash from leaked content
✅ Better first-day experiences — Everyone starts fresh without spoilers
Sure, it’s frustrating for fans who loved knowing everything ahead of time. But let’s be honest—discovering new Pokémon through actually playing the game is how the series was always meant to be experienced.
The Future of Pokémon Leaks: What to Expect
So what can we expect in terms of leaks going forward?
Likely sources of future Pokémon info:
📄 Teraleak remnants — Any remaining unreported files from the original Game Freak breach (these will be outdated concepts, not final data)
📰 Official announcements — Trailers, Pokémon Presents events, and press releases
🔍 Reputable insiders — Industry sources who hear things through traditional channels, not datamining
🎮 Post-launch datamining — Once people actually have the games, some info may surface (but not before release)
The key difference? Nothing substantial will leak before launch anymore.
It’s Time to Accept the New Reality
Look, I get it. Leaks were fun. They built hype, sparked discussions, and gave fans something to obsip about for months before a game dropped.
But that chapter of Pokémon history is closing.
Here’s the bottom line:
- Pokémon Gen 10 probably won’t have major leaks in 2026
- Pokémon Legends: Galar might stay a mystery for years
- The Nintendo Switch 2 has changed the game for dataminers
- We’re going back to experiencing Pokémon games the way they were meant to be played
Is it frustrating? Maybe. But it also means that when you boot up Pokémon Wind and Wave (or whatever Gen 10 is called) in late 2026, you’ll actually be discovering things instead of just confirming what you already knew from leaks.
And honestly? That might not be such a bad thing.
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