Four Details in the Pokémon Winds and Waves Trailer Inspired by Southeast Asia, Including Indonesia

SE Asia Pokémon fans have been buzzing after the release of the latest trailer for Pokémon Winds and Waves. The newest instalment from Game Freak was unveiled during Pokémon Day 2026 on Friday, 27 February, via the YouTube channel Pokémon Asia Eng.

The trailer reveals a number of details believed to reference Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. Fans have matched cultural cues, landscapes, and flora typical of tropical regions that appear in the game’s trailer.

Here are some details argued to represent Southeast Asia in Pokémon Winds and Waves.

The video begins with someone opening a picture album, which then transitions into the Pokémon story. The first Pokémon that appears in the story are Gloom and Tropius. They are described as inspired by the rafflesia arnoldii flower (Gloom) and the banana fruit (Tropius), marking the tropical Southeast Asian characteristics.

In the trailer, a Pokémon Center building with a simple design is seen; some fans compare it to traditional Indonesian stalls. The resemblance has become a hot talking point on social media.

Not only Pokémon are shown; the trailer also features buildings with designs and colours deemed similar to houses in Indonesia. This prompted jokes among fans who dubbed it the “poor green house”.

“LETS GOO, we have a ‘poor green’ house in Pokemon,” said one netizen on X.

Aside from buildings, the trailer shows various landscapes that are highly reminiscent of the Southeast Asia region, including coastal houses, mangrove forests, and beaches typical of tropical regions. These scenes are often found in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, leading many fans to believe the area inspired the game’s setting.

The design of the new starter Pokémon in this game also sparked speculation. Some fans say its shape resembles creatures from Southeast Asian folklore.

This sparked online discussion, especially among fans from Indonesia and the Philippines, who speculate whether the final evolution of the Pokémon could be inspired by local mythology.

However, to date, the developers have not provided official confirmation of the region that inspired Pokémon Winds and Waves.

Nevertheless, the various details in the trailer have convinced Southeast Asian fans that their region is finally in the spotlight in the Pokémon universe.