Nintendo Life has opened a poll inviting readers to weigh in on whether the original Pokémon Red and Blue should be reissued as part of Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations, or whether Nintendo should instead focus on the Game Boy Advance remakes FireRed and LeafGreen. The discussion highlights competing approaches to honouring the series' origins while reaching a modern audience.

The 30th anniversary comes amid ongoing shifts in how Nintendo distributes legacy software. For the franchise's 20th anniversary, Nintendo released classic Pokémon titles to the 3DS eShop on 27 February 2016, allowing users to purchase the games individually. The intervening years have seen a greater emphasis on subscription services for retro libraries, notably the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

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Options under consideration range from faithful digital re-releases of the original Game Boy cartridges to full remakes and inclusion within Nintendo's subscription platforms. A stand‑alone eShop release would mirror the 2016 approach and provide permanent ownership, while a Switch Online release would offer access through a subscription model. Remakes such as FireRed and LeafGreen would allow modernisation of mechanics and quality‑of‑life features but risk altering the original experience that many fans associate with the series' beginnings.

Collectors and long‑time fans have also voiced interest in limited physical editions and compilation releases. Physical reprints or boxed anthologies could appeal to nostalgia and the collecting market, while a modernised compilation could serve both historical preservation and broader accessibility.

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company retain multiple routes for commemorating the milestone, from discrete digital releases and subscription availability to remakes or premium physical products. Community sentiment, as captured in the Nintendo Life poll, will form part of the wider conversation as announcements are anticipated throughout the anniversary year.

Further reading and the original poll are available on Nintendo Life.