Pokemon FireRed Fan Trades Pokemon From GBA to Switch 2

A Pokemon FireRed fan has created a unique adapter that allows them to trade Pokemon from the original Game Boy Advance cartridge to the Nintendo Switch version. The Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen rereleases were one of the highlights of the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

The Pokemon Company shocked fans when it officially revealed that Pokemon’s Gen 1 remakes were coming to the Nintendo Switch. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen debuted on the Switch alongside the 30th anniversary Pokemon Day broadcast, marking the first time the remakes had been re-released outside the Game Boy Advance. The Switch versions of the games even included some bonus Pokemon that were previously locked behind events in the original version, allowing fans to catch Lugia and Ho-Oh, among others. Now, one Pokemon FireRed fan has managed to connect both the original and new versions of the game.

Related

Pokemon Fan Trades Pokemon From GBA to Switch

Pokemon fan Drewworks shared on Twitter their unique way of connecting the GBA and Switch versions of Pokemon FireRed. The post showed a video of a custom adapter built using a Raspberry Pi that wires a Game Boy Advance link cable into the device to create a wireless connection. The video featured both the Game Boy Advance and Switch games connecting to the same trade room, completing a trade that sent a Kangaskhan back 20 years to the GBA version of Pokemon FireRed in exchange for a Slowpoke. Drewworks also hinted at “more work” to come for the Switch-to-GBA adapter, intending to further fine-tune the design of the adapter.

Close

Image via Nintendo, The Pokemon Company

Image via Game Freak, Nintendo, The Pokemon Company

While Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen play largely the same as their Game Boy Advance counterparts, the games have clearly been adjusted for their re-release. Many fans noticed a profanity filter was added to the Switch version of the classic Pokemon games, barring players from using inappropriate language when naming Pokemon or characters. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will also receive a major modern upgrade from the original games in October 2026, officially becoming compatible with Pokemon Home and allowing fans to transfer their Pokemon to the storage app.

The Switch re-releases have also led to plenty of speculation about other Pokemon games coming to the console. Datamines from shortly after the release of the FireRed and LeafGreen ports revealed that the Switch versions also have compatibility with Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Sapphire, and Pokemon Emerald. Leaks have heavily suggested that Game Freak and The Pokemon Company may be intending to bring Pokemon’s Hoenn games to the Nintendo Switch, even suggesting that the Pokemon Gen 3 ports could release as soon as September or October.

Pokemon’s 30th anniversary gave fans a major look at the future of the franchise alongside the return of FireRed and LeafGreen. Game Freak and The Pokemon Company officially revealed Pokemon Winds and Waves during the anniversary livestream, showing off a tropical island region and the three starters for the tenth-generation games. The trailer also revealed that fans will still be waiting a while for the release of Winds and Waves, with the games not scheduled to launch until 2027. Pokemon’s anniversary offers something for all the franchise’s fans, both bringing back classic games and teasing new adventure to come.