The Pokémon Company’s Japanese social media accounts appear to be running a cryptic countdown that could conclude at around 9 a.m. on November 30, 2026. The activity has led to speculation that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company may be preparing an announcement connected to Pokémon Wind and Waves, although no reveal has been confirmed.
The pattern was highlighted by Serebii’s Joe Merrick. On October 18, the official Japanese Pokémon X account posted an image featuring Bulbasaur, the number 1025 and a partially obscured phrase that included “Pokémon and.” A later post on October 26 showed Goodra alongside the number 843.
The time between those two posts was 182 hours, matching the difference between 1025 and 843. A third post, featuring Teddiursa and the number 676, followed the same apparent timing pattern. The Japanese text in that post was fully visible and translated as “Continue with Pokémon.”
The countdown could form part of the Pokémon 30th anniversary celebrations, which have so far focused mainly on the trading card game. However, the elaborate sequence has encouraged theories that a larger announcement may be planned.
A surprise release of Pokémon Wind and Waves this month appears unlikely. The game is now expected to arrive in 2027, and there has been no regular flow of promotional material or new Pokémon reveals since the starters were shown in February. The lack of a formal announcement means the countdown is not considered confirmation of the game’s release or reveal.
One possibility is a new Pokémon Presents presentation. The 9 a.m. timeslot and reports pointing to a November 2027 launch would make an announcement roughly a year before release plausible. Such a presentation could potentially include the first official footage of the game and additional Generation 10 Pokémon, though the countdown may ultimately lead to a smaller anniversary-related announcement.
Sources: Kotaku.