Pokémon Unveils Ruby Sapphire and Emerald Pins for February 2027

Collectible merchandise celebrating Pokémon's third-generation games is scheduled to arrive in February 2027, giving fans another way to revisit the Hoenn region during the franchise's 30th anniversary. According to OpenCritic and Screen Rant reports published October 9, 2026, the Pokémon Center Online website has offered preorders for pins inspired by Pokémon Ruby Version, Pokémon Sapphire Version, and Pokémon Emerald Version.

The collection features artwork and branding from the three Game Boy Advance titles, including Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza. The pins also display each game's original release year and the Game Boy Advance logo and icon, with decorative sparkles surrounding the designs and a glossy finish.

The merchandise announcement comes as fans anticipate potential new ways to play the older games. However, the confirmed development concerns collectibles, while rumors of Nintendo Switch versions remain unverified.

Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version debuted in 2002, followed by Pokémon Emerald Version in 2004. These releases formed part of the franchise's third generation and introduced players to the Hoenn region, whose prominent Pokémon include Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza.

The franchise began in Japan in 1996 with Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green for the original Game Boy. OpenCritic and Screen Rant reported that the series has since expanded to 40 mainline games across nine generations, with Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves expected to begin the tenth generation in 2027. The broader franchise also encompasses more than 120 video games when spin-offs and other titles are included.

The anniversary celebrations have also renewed attention on other classic entries. Polygon reported October 6, 2026, that a separate set of collectible pins inspired by Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver is scheduled for February 2027 through the Japanese Pokémon Center.

Those pins reproduce the Nintendo DS game packaging, featuring Ho-Oh on HeartGold and Lugia on SoulSilver. Their design includes the Nintendo DS branding, the games' release year, a sparkling finish around the Pokémon and title, and matte-black backs styled after Poké Balls.

According to Polygon, the HeartGold and SoulSilver set was offered for preorder for a limited period during the summer at ¥1,320, approximately $8.35. The Japanese Pokémon Center subsequently listed the products as out of stock while indicating that they would become available again at a later date. A further preorder window had not been confirmed in the report.

HeartGold and SoulSilver originally launched in 2009 as remakes of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver. Their return through anniversary merchandise follows the release of Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version on Nintendo Switch earlier in 2026, although no official announcement in the supplied reports confirms equivalent Switch releases for the Johto or Hoenn games.

Screen Rant also cited an unconfirmed report from insider Speshal Nick suggesting that Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald could arrive on Nintendo Switch in September or October 2026. As of October 9, 2026, the supplied reporting did not establish that those ports had been officially announced or released.

Fan discussion has also highlighted questions about connectivity with older Pokémon games. One commenter in the r/pokemonribbons community wrote, "Been hoping for this for years. I never really ribbon-collected as a kid, but now I want to go back, and I don't have my old GBA games anymore," according to Screen Rant. The comment reflected interest in returning to the original games for collection-related activities.

Another commenter raised concerns about transferring Pokémon between generations, saying, "As of right now, I’d much rather play these on my GBA. Being on the Switch means nothing if we don’t get connectivity with PokèBank. Also, that means your Gen 3 'mons skip multiple generations." The discussion underscored connectivity as a consideration among players awaiting any potential modern release.