Pokémon Winds & Waves Leak Pegs Gym Count at 18 on Switch 2

Q: With leakers claiming over 300 new monsters, how many are truly new species versus simply alternate forms of old favorites?

There is no verified breakdown yet. The strongest reading of the leaks is that the “over 300” figure does not mean 300 entirely new species, but a combined total of brand-new Pokémon, alternate forms, and regional variants. That interpretation is supported by the leak summaries tied to Centro and the broader reporting around the Game Freak “Teraleak,” which describe the roster as “300 new Pokémon/forms.” In other words, forms appear to be counted in the headline number. Reports about special weather-based battle forms for existing Pokémon also point the same way, with names such as Pikachu, Arcanine, Kecleon and Lucario cited as examples of older monsters receiving new transformations or gimmick forms. What cannot be said, based on the available material, is how many of those 300-plus are truly original species. No credible leak published so far gives a numerical split between all-new creatures and reworked versions of old favorites. The only firm takeaway is that the total is likely inflated by form changes and variants rather than representing a pure species count. So the careful answer is that some unknown share of the 300-plus will be alternate forms, and the number of genuinely new species remains unconfirmed. Until Game Freak provides an official Pokédex count or a more detailed leak emerges, any exact estimate would be speculation.

3 articles · Updated · OpenCritic · Jul 20

A leaked official map image shared by leaker Centro points to 18 gyms in Pokémon Winds & Waves, giving fans the clearest look yet at the structure of the Gen 10 adventure.
The image adds a concrete gameplay detail to a title Game Freak has only outlined broadly since February's Pokémon Presents reveal.
Pokémon Winds & Waves is set in a Southeast Asia-inspired island region with jungles, beaches, volcanoes and underwater areas, and is being built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
Game Freak has already confirmed the starters Browt, Pombon and Gecqua, while other leaks have suggested new battle mechanics, stronger multiplayer features and a roster of more than 300 Pokémon ahead of a targeted 2027 launch.