Following the initial April 2026 release window announced on Pokémon Day, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have confirmed that the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon Champions—a new free-to-play battle simulator for competitive play—launches on April 8, 2026. A mobile version follows later in the year, and the game will be playable at PAX East in Boston this weekend.
Pokémon Champions is the Pokémon series' new platform for competitive battles, building on the details shared during the February Pokémon Presents. A new overview trailer highlights recruitment and training mechanics: players earn Victory Points from online matches to customize Pokémon movesets, stats, and natures—more flexible than mainline RPGs. Pokémon transfer from the Pokémon Home app, with in-game teammate and training tickets for recruitment and development.
Free-to-play, it offers a paid starter pack with extra storage, a battle theme from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, 30 teammate tickets, and 50 training tickets. PAX East attendees in Boston can demo it this weekend.
Mega Evolutions from the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A debut in standard competitive format here, including their Abilities (omitted in Legends games). Mobile release is slated for later 2026, with full cross-platform features expected post-launch.
