Pokémon Gold and Silver make a comeback: Nintendo hints at new adventure in Johto

The year 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the first Pokémon games, at least counting from the Japanese release in 1996 – the games weren’t released in Europe and the U.S. until two to three years later. Nintendo has already announced the next generation of Pokémon this year in the form of Pokémon Wind and Wave, and has released a charming spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia ($69 on Amazon).

In addition, Nintendo has released Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. This could just be the beginning, as Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are also said to be released for the Switch to celebrate the 30th anniversary. Now, in the tweet embedded below, Nintendo is hinting at news regarding Pokémon Gold and Silver – that is, the second generation of Pokémon.

The screenshot is from Pokémon Pokopia and shows the protagonist with Cyndaquil, one of the three second-generation starter Pokémon, while the rival peeks through the window into Professor Elm's house – a classic scene from the games. The text "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold." has sparked speculation among fans.

This teaser could hint at a new region in Pokémon Pokopia set in Johto instead of Kanto. It’s also possible that a new Pokémon Let’s Go game based on Pokémon Gold and Silver is in the works, or perhaps a port of Heart Gold and Soul Silver for the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo could reveal the meaning behind this teaser as early as the next few weeks, as rumors suggest that the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire for the Nintendo Switch will also be officially confirmed by early October at the latest.