Pokémon Winds and Waves may signal a change at Game Freak
A reported leak about Pokémon Winds and Waves suggests the next generation could be led by two experienced Game Freak developers rather than longtime director Shigeru Ohmori. If accurate, the shift could bring a different creative approach to the long-running RPG series.
Ohmori has played a major role in modern Pokémon development since Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire in 2014. His influence has continued across later releases, including Pokémon Pokopia, but leaked material indicates that his directorial role on the next mainline games may have changed by 2024.
Who could direct the next Pokémon games?
A report attributed to Pokémon Winds and Waves leaker BallGuy names Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku as the possible directors of the tenth-generation games.
Both developers are veterans with credits across important Pokémon projects, although this would reportedly be their first time directing a core series entry. They are particularly associated with the downloadable expansions for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, as well as Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
Those expansions received a warmer response from many players than their base games. The Crown Tundra was recognised for its broader scale and emphasis on exploration, qualities that could suit a Pokémon game built around wilderness adventures. The Teal Mask expansion, meanwhile, was praised for its more grounded, slice-of-life storytelling.
Why the reported leadership change matters
The possible appointment of Tani and Ichiraku is notable because the recent open-world games attracted criticism for technical problems and a cautious approach to innovation. Scarlet and Violet did not receive free performance upgrades on Switch 2 until 2025, meaning players had to wait years to experience a more polished version of those releases.
That makes the directors’ previous work relevant. Their expansions demonstrated stronger exploration and storytelling, while newer projects such as Pokémon Legends: Z-A have already shown that Game Freak is willing to experiment with more action-focused gameplay outside the traditional mainline formula.
For Australian players following the next generation, the reported change is still only a leak. Game Freak has not officially confirmed the directors, and Ohmori could remain involved in another capacity.
What the leaked Pokémon Winds and Waves plans suggest
Documents said to have surfaced in 2025 reportedly identify Ohmori as a contributor to an early proposal for the game. The proposal for the game lists No Man’s Sky and Spore among its influences.
The reference to Spore may connect with the rumoured “Seed” Pokémon. These creatures are said to lack a fixed evolutionary path, with their development instead shaped by factors such as the environment, weather and the way their trainer raises them.
The same rumours claim that Winds and Waves could introduce 300 new Pokémon. If that figure is correct, it would represent the largest number of new monsters added in the series’ 30-year history.
A new battle system is also rumoured
Leaked information has also pointed to changes in the battle system. The details remain unclear, but a revised approach could complement the broader focus on exploration and environmental change suggested by the other rumours.
Game development is fluid, so concepts from an early design document may not survive into the finished release. The documents reportedly state that Ohmori was no longer directing the next Pokémon games by 2024, but that does not confirm how responsibilities are divided today.
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Could this be the change the series needs?
A new creative team could give the mainline games room to take more risks, particularly after years of criticism from both committed fans and sceptical players. The available evidence does not guarantee a reinvention, but Tani and Ichiraku’s reported involvement would offer a reason to watch the project closely.
If the rumours prove accurate, Pokémon Winds and Waves may continue the series’ gradual move towards more ambitious worlds, flexible evolution systems and different battle ideas. Until official announcements arrive, however, the directors, Seed Pokémon and reported total of 300 new monsters should all be treated as unconfirmed.
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