The Pokémon Company has announced that “Pokémon Champions” will replace the mainline games at the Pokémon World Championships starting in 2026.
Why it matters: This marks a significant shift in the competitive Pokémon scene, as it will be the first time the Video Game Championships (VGC) will take place outside of a core, mainline Pokémon game.
The details:
- Pokémon Champions is a new, multiplayer battle-focused game set to be available on both mobile and Nintendo Switch, including the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
- The game will feature a “free-to-start” model, with additional details about a “paid digital version” expected to be revealed in the future.
- Pokémon Champions will incorporate “core-style battles” with gimmicks from various Pokémon eras, such as Mega Evolution and Terastalization.
- Players will be able to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon HOME into Pokémon Champions to assemble powerful teams for competitive play.
What they’re saying:
- “Pokémon Champions is a free-to-start game coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices in 2026,” states the official press release.
- “Starting in 2026, Pokémon Champions will be used as the VGC software for the Pokémon World Championships and for Championship Series events leading up to Worlds,” the statement confirms.
The community appears divided, with some seeing “Pokémon Champions” as a welcomed effort to focus on competitive battling, while others express concern about free-to-play elements potentially overshadowing the experience.
What’s next: The impact of the game’s release on the annual competitive circuit remains to be seen, as players usually begin competing for Championship Points soon after the previous year’s World Championships. Stay tuned for more updates as The Pokémon Company reveals further details about “Pokémon Champions.”
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