Pokémon Winds & Waves Led By Sword & Shield DLC Director, It’s Claimed
Pokémon’s development leadership may be undergoing significant changes with the next generation. According to claims from leaker BallGuy on X, Hiroyuki Tani and Katsuhiko Ichiraku are set to take over as director and co-director respectively for Pokémon Winds & Waves, potentially ending Shigeru Ohmori’s decade-long run overseeing the creation of new Pokémon generations.
Tani has previous experience directing expansions for Sword & Shield, while Ichiraku has also contributed to the franchise’s development, though specific details about their role were not fully available. The reported change represents what could be a generational shift in creative leadership for one of the world’s most commercially successful gaming franchises. However, it appears Ohmori may not be entirely departing the franchise but rather stepping back from the director position.
These claims originate from a known leaker and have not yet been officially confirmed by Game Freak or The Pokémon Company, so they should be treated as unverified until an official announcement is made.