Two of my great gaming loves are Pokemon and Persona franchises that will both turn 30 in 2026. Although I was a Pokemon fan since the beginning and my entire gaming taste has been heavily influenced Pokemon I'm relatively new to the games I grew up playing Persona fan. I jumped in Persona series when Person 5 came out in 2017 and I instantly fell in love with what I saw as essentially a more mature Pokemonformula for collecting creatures. Since then I have played every new release Persona release and come back to replay the classic titles I missed.
It's safe to say that 30 years later, both franchises are titans of the industry, despite looking very different from how they did when they debuted. I'm sure both Atlus and The Pokemon Company have a lot planned to celebrate such a significant anniversary in 2026, but I have more faith in one franchise's show than the other. Pokemon is in a position to launch its 10th generation of games, but a new main line Persona The game still feels like a dream, even as a 30th anniversary celebration.
Say Goodbye to Pokemon Gen 10, Legends Galar Leaks in 2026
Pokemon Gen 10 and Legends Galar leaks will have to be said goodbye to in 2026 for a rather unexpected reason.
Pokemon and Persona will be 30 years old in 2026
|
Game |
Release date in Japan |
North American release date |
|---|---|---|
|
Revelation: Persona |
September 20, 1996 |
December 14, 1996 |
|
Pokemon red and green/blue |
February 27, 1996 |
September 28, 1998 |
As it turns out, 1996 was a huge year for JRPGs with both originals Pokemon red and green and Revelation: Persona released only a few months apart. Although Pokemon would not be released in North America until 1998 (e.g Pokemon red and blue), the original PersonaThe western release was only a few months after its Japanese debut. Despite this two-year gap between the Japanese and Western releases, Pokemonthe anniversary is still celebrated on February 27th, usually with the Pokemon Day Direct, and this year looks to be no different.
The future of the Pokemon series in 2026 seems bright
The Pokemon the series has historically been much more consistent with its games and how it releases information related to them than Persona. As someone who's been keeping up with the series for decades at this point, I've gotten pretty used to the annual release cycle Pokemon series. Even if last year's Pokemon Legends: ZA was the first main series Pokemon game from 2022 Pokemon Scarlet and Violetthe franchise was fairly consistent with annual releases for the better part of a decade. With that in mind, I'm pretty sure we'll see a Pokemon Direct this February with information on the next generation of mainline games that will likely be released later this year.
Pokemon Gen 10 Leaks Reveal Wild New Direction for Series, Likely to Release in 2026
Gen 10 release for Pokemon The series' 30th anniversary makes perfect sense; it's a monumental event on both ends, so The Pokémon Company will probably want to go all out. Massive TeraLeak of Pokemon documents last year revealed some of the plans for these games, reportedly named Pokemon wind and wavesand set in an island region modeled after Indonesia. The leaked feature that caught my eye the most is the alleged procedurally generated islands that players will be able to explore. I imagine something like that No Man's Sky but for islands that could be a complete game changer for post-game exploration Pokemon series.
Even without firm confirmation Pokemon Gen 10 is coming in 2026, there are already some revolutionary ones Pokemon games scheduled for release next year. Pokemon Pokopia is the first on the docket, a spin-off game where players take on the role of Ditto to help other mons build a thriving community with a cozy, life-sim atmosphere. Like competitive Pokemon fan, that's what I'm most excited about Pokemon Championswhich should be an official battle simulator game playable on Switch, Switch 2 and mobile devices. Both of these games took the series into uncharted territory, and the confirmation of Gen 10 would round out an exciting 30th anniversary for fans like myself.
Pokemon Pokopia released March 5, 2026. Pokemon Champions does not have a fixed release date beyond 2026.
Persona's plans for 2026 are a wild card
While Persona There seem to be several projects brewing at the moment, official information about them is very scarce. Unlike Pokemon, Persona the series doesn't tend to share information consistently, making it difficult to predict when fans can expect to hear updates on upcoming projects. Sega has announced that it plans to release Persona of content per year, p Persona 3 Reload and a mobile spin-off Persona 5: Phantom X published in the last 2 years. However, it's unclear what the franchise has in store for 2026, and I'm starting to temper my expectations to avoid disappointment.
Yet, Persona launched a 30th anniversary website along with a trailer for a Persona– thematic Fitness box game.
Persona 4 Revival seems too far away for a 2026 release
That one Persona the game confirmed to be in development is a remake Personality 4with the name Persona 4 Revival. The game was revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 last summer, but it was only a short trailer with a small preview of the game or a given release window. Persona 4 Revival also caught some criticism for the rough state of the game in its reveal trailer, suggesting that the game is still in early development and won't be released for several years. This makes it unlikely Persona 4 Revival will be a 2026 release of the franchise.
I don't expect to see Persona 6 anytime soon
Besides P4Rthe elephant in the room with Persona series is a place to stay Personality 6. A whole decade will pass from 2026 Person 5 he was released, without continuing to be seen. Many fans expected Personality 6 get an official reveal during the franchise's 25th anniversary in 2021, and it's very likely that 2026 could come and go without shelter or hair. There were many leaks and rumors around Personality 6 over the years, from a story with two protagonists to an art school setting, but nothing concrete has been confirmed for the game.
Like Pokemon Gen 10, 30th Anniversary Persona franchise would be the perfect time to reveal the next entry in the series. However, the paths to this reveal are slim, with the most likely event being either the Xbox launch or Summer Game Fest 2026. The more time that passes without Personality 6 announcement, the less confident we'll ever see the game. I won't hold my breath for that Personality 6 in 2026 and it will be a pleasant surprise if it is announced this year.
- Released
-
October 16, 2025
- ESRB
-
Everyone 10+ / Fantasy violence, in-game purchases
