Pokémon Fans Are Losing It Over Latest Leaked Winds & Waves 'Mon

Pokémon is on the brink of a new era, so you know what that means? Things are about to get really weird. With the release of Pokopia behind us, all eyes are set on the horizon now that Pokémon has a new generation to launch. The impending release of Pokémon's 10th generation will bring a slew of new monsters to gamers, and an alleged leak suggests one of these newcomers will pay homage to a long-cancelled character.

Over on X (formerly Twitter), the Pokémon fandom was sent into a tizzy after a well-known leaker posted a tease about Ben 10. The user @The_BallGuy shared an image of a flying fish-bird, a creature that Pokémon famously cut from a previous generation. The leaker then teased fans about the strange post, writing, "New basic mon."

Of course, the update here has fans geeking out in a big way. Pokémon: Winds and Waves will be the most expansive game yet in the franchise, meaning there will be lots of room for new monsters to appear. On average, new Pokémon generations come with about 115 never-before-seen monsters, and there is no reason to think Gen 10 will differ here. Previous releases like Generation V introduced nearly 160 new monsters, and let's face it. The introduction of a bird-fish to Pokémon would be pretty great.

And of course, the introduction would be long overdue. Pokémon first considered bringing this hybrid to life in the late '90s, but behind-the-scenes cuts left the bird-fish on the cutting room floor.

Pokemon: Winds & Waves Could Feature A Bird-Fish

If you did not know about Pokémon's previous attempt to make a bird-fish, you should know it is well-known lore at this point. In 2023, a mega-leak hit The Pokémon Company, and it was there hundreds of files regarding the franchise's history surfaced. One of those documents included a list of canceled Pokémon over the years, and Sato was included on the list.

Originally intended for Gen 2, Pokémon was toying with the creation of a bird-fish in May 1998. The original sprite art for the monster, which was given the name Sato, shows a trout-like fish flying as their fins were transformed into wings. Complete with a pair of legs, Sato is a wild mash-up, but anything goes with it comes to Pokémon. And if this new leak is right, then Sato may get their long-awaited debut in Pokémon: Winds and Waves.

What Weird Pokemon Await Us In Gen 10?

As fans await an update on the newcomers set to debut in Generation 10, theories are running wild about Pokémon's future. Nintendo has already revealed its next starters as the introduction of Brown, Pombon, and Gecqua sparked a frenzy online. Outside of Sato, of course, rumors and leaks are rampant ahead of Generation 10s release. Given the game's Southeast Asian influence, fans are convinced new regional forms are on the horizon for characters like Gyarados. But until an official update drops from Nintendo, all we can do is speculate about the wild reveals Pokémon has in store.