The Pokémon Winds and Waves region is a new open-world setting filled with windswept islands, a vast ocean and different Pokémon ecosystems. The Pokémon Company introduced the setting during its February 2026 presentation, ahead of the games’ worldwide 2027 launch on Nintendo Switch 2.
The trailer offers a first look at what kind of place trainers will explore, but the region’s official name, complete map and island count haven’t been announced. Here’s what the reveal establishes about the geography, the Pokémon living there and the parts of the world that still haven’t been shown.
Where is the Pokémon Winds and Waves region?
The Pokémon Winds and Waves region is made up of islands surrounded by a large ocean. The official description mentions beautiful windswept islands and glittering waves that ebb and flow, along with Pokémon living in harmony with the landscape.
Pokémon hasn’t published a complete map or confirmed how many islands are part of the adventure. The new region has been introduced as an open world, but that doesn’t establish its exact size or which areas will be available at the beginning of the game.
| Region detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Official region name | Not announced |
| World structure | Open world |
| Islands | Confirmed |
| Large ocean | Confirmed |
| Pokémon ecosystems | Confirmed |
| Exact number of islands | Not announced |
| Main city or capital | Not announced |
| Real-world inspiration | Not confirmed |
The current information establishes the island-and-ocean setting. It doesn’t identify a capital city, list every settlement or establish whether the map is larger than regions in previous Pokémon games.
Does the Pokémon Winds and Waves region have a name?
Not yet. Pokémon has unveiled the new environment without giving the region an official name. There’s no confirmed equivalent to names such as Paldea, Galar or Alola for this adventure.
Any region name circulating online should therefore be treated as unofficial unless it appears in a Pokémon or Nintendo announcement. The game titles themselves, Winds and Waves, aren’t the name of the region.
For now, it’s simplest to refer to the Pokémon Winds and Waves region until The Pokémon Company provides an official name.
How many islands are in the new region?
The exact number of islands hasn’t been revealed. Pokémon’s official material refers to islands in the plural and shows an ocean setting, but it doesn’t provide an island-by-island map or travel route.
That leaves plenty of genuine questions about how far apart the islands are, whether they’re all explorable and how players will travel between them. None can be answered just by counting visible landmasses in a promotional shot.
Our open-world guide covers what has been confirmed about exploration without mistaking scenery for a fully explained movement system.
What Pokémon live in the islands and ocean?
One of the first details Pokémon shared is that species living in the Pokémon Winds and Waves region have developed unique ecosystems. The announcement highlights the relationship between the environment and the Pokémon that inhabit it.
The three newly introduced starters are Browt, Pombon and Gecqua. The reveal also features familiar Pokémon associated with different environments, but it doesn’t publish a full list of habitats or wild encounter locations.
You can see the identified species in our Pokédex checklist. That guide keeps returning Pokémon separate from the newly announced first partners.
Is the Pokémon Winds and Waves region based on a real country?
No real-world inspiration has been officially confirmed. Pokémon regions have drawn on real places in the past, and an island setting naturally invites comparisons, but the first trailer doesn’t provide a geographical answer.
Even if landscapes resemble familiar coastlines, visual similarities aren’t proof that the new region represents a particular country or archipelago. An official map, region name or developer interview would be stronger evidence.
The important confirmed point is the design: a world of islands, sea and distinct Pokémon ecosystems, rather than an officially named real-world location.
Will the new region have towns, Gyms and underwater areas?
Pokémon hasn’t provided a complete town list, identified a major city or explained the progression structure. The February reveal concentrates on the environment and the Pokémon living there rather than laying out the order of Gyms or story objectives.
Underwater exploration has also not been confirmed. The ocean is central to the setting, but no details have established a diving system, boats or Surf-style travel between islands.
Our gameplay guide covers the confirmed promise that Pokémon will help trainers overcome difficult terrain and forces of nature.
When will we learn more about the Pokémon Winds and Waves region?
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company haven’t scheduled a specific region-map reveal. Both games are still set for 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, and the announcement leaves the official name, complete map and locations open.
For now, the Pokémon Winds and Waves region is an island-and-ocean open world with unique ecosystems and an unannounced name. Our release-date article covers the launch window, and the official Pokémon website has the announcement material.
