Which Pokémon games were the first in the main series to receive a simultaneous worldwide release?

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y were the first main-series Pokémon games to receive a simultaneous worldwide release.

Released on October 12, 2013, the paired games launched across major markets including Japan, North America, and Europe on the same date. Earlier Pokémon games typically reached Japan first, followed months later by releases in other regions.

The global launch was part of a broader effort to make Pokémon X and Y a shared worldwide event. The games were announced by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in a Nintendo Direct on January 8, 2013, and were developed for the Nintendo 3DS by Game Freak.

Pokémon X and Y introduced the sixth generation of Pokémon and the Kalos region, which was inspired by France. They also added fully polygonal 3D graphics, character customization, the Fairy type, and Mega Evolution. Their simultaneous launch is sometimes confused with a same-day release for every individual country, but the milestone refers to the series’ first coordinated worldwide release window.