We’re following an intriguing rumour from Insider Gaming that could mark a generational shift for the Pokémon mainline series — and if true, it would be a major leadership change behind Pokémon Winds & Waves. Take this with a pinch of salt, but the claim is clear: two new names are allegedly taking the helm, while long-time series director Shigeru Ohmori may be moving to other projects.
What Was Reported
According to Insider Gaming, leaker BallGuy on X claims that Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku will serve as director and co-director respectively for Pokémon Winds & Waves. The report says Tani previously directed the Sword & Shield DLC, while Ichiraku was responsible for the Scarlet & Violet DLC. Both of those expansion projects were mentioned as reasons for cautious optimism about this alleged leadership team.
The same claim frames this as a reported change after a decade with Shigeru Ohmori overseeing new generations. Insider Gaming lists several major releases that Ohmori directed during that time, naming Pokémon Alpha Sapphire & Omega Ruby, Pokémon Sun & Moon, Pokémon Sword & Shield, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
BallGuy also allegedly says that Ohmori isn’t leaving Pokémon entirely and is supposedly working on Generation 11. The report notes Ohmori has served as a producer on Pokémon Pokopia and Beast of Reincarnation, but his exact future role is unclear.
The Source & Credibility
We should be cautious. The chain of claims runs: BallGuy posted the attribution on X, and Insider Gaming reported those claims. That makes BallGuy the original leaker in this instance, with Insider Gaming relaying the information. As always with leaks propagated via social platforms, the details are unconfirmed and should be treated as alleged until an official announcement is made.
- Primary Claim Origin: BallGuy on X, as cited by Insider Gaming.
- What Is Known: Names — Hiroyuki Tani, Katsuhiko Ichiraku, Shigeru Ohmori — and links to prior DLC work.
- What Is Unclear: The depth of involvement for each figure, official confirmation, and any production changes beyond the leadership claim.
We’ll repeat the obvious caveat: this is a rumour chain and not an official developer statement. Still, the names mentioned have ties to known Pokémon expansion projects, which is why the rumour is drawing attention.
What It Could Mean
If true, this alleged leadership shuffle would be notable for several reasons. First, the idea that Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku could lead a mainline generation suggests Nintendo and the Pokémon teams might be willing to hand over stewardship to developers who worked on expansions rather than mainline releases.
Second, the report implies Shigeru Ohmori may be shifting focus toward future projects — specifically, Generation 11 according to the claim — while still being connected to the franchise in a producing capacity on titles named in the report. If accurate, that could signal a staged transition rather than an abrupt departure.
Fans have long debated the direction of the series. The Insider Gaming write-up notes that both the mentioned DLC efforts were “generally well received,” which the leaker appears to use as evidence that the new alleged directors could bring a positive impact. If you want to track other recent Pokémon rumour threads we’ve covered, see our earlier reporting on the Three Massive Lego Pokémon Display Sets Allegedly Reveal First Ever Pokémon Minifigure and the LEGO Pokémon Lineup Allegedly Includes 2,386-Piece Poké Ball.
Why This Matters
Leadership changes shape creative direction. Allegedly handing over the reins for Pokémon Winds & Waves to figures known for DLC work could lead to a different development approach — if true. Likewise, the notion that Shigeru Ohmori is moving toward other projects, including being “supposedly” associated with Generation 11, would close a decade-long era of him directing mainline generations, per the claim.
Take this with a pinch of salt: none of these claims are confirmed. But if they are accurate, it could be one of the most consequential internal shifts for the Pokémon series in years. We’ll be watching for any official word and will update readers if confirmations or denials surface.
How do you feel about the prospect of a new directorial team for Pokémon Winds & Waves? If this rumour ends up being true, it may spark significant conversation about the franchise’s next creative phase.
