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Pokémon Champions is looking to shake things up by bringing fans a battle mode-focused game for the first time since the Pokémon Colosseum series on Nintendo 64. Pokémon Champions is giving the concept a comeback, and Nintendo has revealed that fans are only two weeks away from launch. The game will come to Nintendo Switch beginning April 8, 2026. The game is playable on Switch 2 and will get a performance boost for that platform on day one. Champions will also be coming to mobile, but later in the year.
To prep you for launch, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company International have released a handy overview trailer:
Pokémon Champions is set to become the primary platform for the Video Game Championships at future Play! Pokémon Premier Events. The first will be the Indianapolis Regional Championships beginning on May 29-31, 2026, followed by the Turin Special Championships from June 6-7, 2026, the North America International Championships from June 12-14, 2026, and the Pokémon World Championships from August 28-30, 2026. There’s a lot more details about the specifics of this change that can be found here.
Pokémon Champions is all about Pokémon battling. Build teams made either from your own roster of Pokémon via Pokémon HOME, or from what’s available in-game, and take on opponents. Players will be able to choose between three different modes of Pokémon battles: Ranked Battles, Casual Battles, and Private Battles. What’s more, players can choose to partake in these battles in Single Battle and Double Battle formats.
Keep in mind that this is a free-to-start game, so naturally that means there are microtransactions aplenty. If you’re already subscribed to HOME, that will be the most budget-friendly way to get Pokémon into the game, as you can download them directly from your own lineup. However, if you’re not using HOME, you’ll be able to accumulate or (of course) buy with real money the in-game currency to permanently add Pokémon to your roster. Speaking of real cash, there are all sorts of ways to spend it here, including:
- Premium Battle Pass: Get exclusive rewards and unlocks, including avatar clothing
- Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack: Purchase at launch to get:
- Increased Box Space (50 Additional Pokémon)
- Exclusive Music Track (Battle! from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!)
- 30 Teammate Tickets
- 30 Training Tickets
- Pokémon Champions Membership:
- Store more Pokémon in their Box
- Have more Battle Teams usable at one time
- Unlock membership-exclusive missions
- Unlock membership-exclusive battle songs
There’s yet more beyond this, including Mega Pokémon that will be making a comeback, a free Dragonite and Dragonite Stone that you can qualify for, and more. For more info, hit up the link here or down below. And before you go, why not let us know what you think of Champions and how it might impact you down in the comments and on social media!
Source: The Pokémon Company International Press Release + Pokémon Champions Website
