Which Pokémon game generation first featured a simultaneous worldwide release?

Generation VI was the first Pokémon game generation to receive a simultaneous worldwide release, beginning with Pokémon X and Y.

Pokémon X and Y launched globally on October 12, 2013. Earlier main-series games generally reached Japan first and arrived in North America, Europe, and other regions months later. The coordinated release reduced the gap between international player communities and made it harder for story details and new Pokémon to remain regional surprises.

The games were released for Nintendo 3DS and introduced the Kalos region, which draws inspiration from France. They also added Fairy-type Pokémon, Mega Evolution, character customization, and fully rendered polygonal 3D graphics. X and Y introduced 72 new Pokémon species.

A worldwide release is different from a worldwide announcement or a later digital rollout. The key fact is that the same pair of main-series games launched on the same date across major markets. This made Pokémon X and Y a major milestone in the franchise’s increasingly global release strategy.