New 'Pokémon Winds and Waves' Leaks Fill Major Gap Left by Game Freak's Silence

Published Sep 28, 2026, 1:38 PM EDT Patricia is the former editor-in-chief of Kotaku, where she spent a decade writing and editing. Prior to that, she served as the Culture Editor at Polygon, and as a reporter at The Verge. Hernandez specializes in Pokémon TCG, Nintendo, and offbeat internet culture stories. The latest batch of Pokémon leaks contains early gameplay, maps, and character models Image: Game Freak/The Pokémon Company Sign in to your Polygon.com account It's been crickets since Game Freak first revealed Pokémon Winds and Waves — and with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time coming from Nintendo this fall, the information drought is unlikely to end anytime soon. Game Freak didn't say anything about the monster-collecting RPG during the franchise's big yearly event, and there was no 10th generation news tied to any of the 30th Anniversary announcements. Despite this, new Pokémon leaks might be telling fans way more about the game than a second official trailer ever could. The latest wave of leaks was shared online by Pokémon influencer Centro Leaks, who claims that the information originates from Game Freak's massive "Terraleak" data breach in 2024. The data trove detailed plans for a decade's worth of Pokémon games, including Winds and Waves before it was formally announced, as well as a rumored Pokémon MMO. Since then, leakers have shared a steady trickle of Winds and Waves information online throughout 2026. The latest round of leaks is a mishmash of character models, terrain footage, and possible full-game maps. For example, Centro shared a picture of what is apparently Winds and Waves' unnamed Elite Four champion. Notably, the boss-like character has more than one 3D model. One design shows him as a young man, and two others depict the champion in later stages of his life. Pokémon fans speculate that Winds and Waves might feature time travel or a time skip. Other leaked media depicts Winds and Waves' apparent full map. With a large assortment of islands and subregions, the next generation of Pokémon looks like it might be a massive game. Centro asserts that the three-minute trailer for Winds and Waves was shot entirely on a single land mass. That area of the game contains 11 separate locations, such as a jungle and research facility. The image pinpoints the supposed area where players will receive their starters, as well as the first grass-type gym they can challenge. There's even a character model for the leader of the fighting-type gym. Despite its enormous size, leakers warn that there are more regions that aren't fully accounted for on the map. Pokémon insiders also caution that all the recent Winds and Waves media is from around 2023 or 2024 — when Game Freak was still developing it as a Switch 1 title. The images therefore look rougher than the final product will. Given their age, some aspects of the leak may not make it into the final game at all. Free sign-up Get Polygon’s Wishlister newsletter A weekly cheat sheet to what you’ll eventually love to play. No buying, no commitment — just saving for later. Sign up free Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Previously, leaks detailed a potential new battle system, the Pokémon professor, new evolutions and an unannounced new type of monster. The years-old, potato-quality images are not an ideal way to learn more about one of the most highly anticipated Switch 2 games currently in development. Yet until Game Freak releases another trailer or update of some kind, leaks are likely to tempt even the most loyal of players.