The Pokémon Company and developer The Pokémon Works announced that Pokémon Champions will release on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on April 8, and on mobile devices later this year.
Pokémon Champions is a free-to-play, multiplayer-only spinoff, and a successor to the Pokémon Stadium series.
Champions will support Pokémon Home, the mobile database where players can store their Pokémon. Using Home, players can bring previously caught and trained Pokémon from across the main RPG series, as well as Pokémon GO, for turn-based battles against others in Champions.
Players can also recruit Pokémon directly in Champions, though they’re limited to one random Pokémon per day. Recruited Pokémon can only be used for a limited time of one week.
Champions will feature three modes of battles: Ranked, Casual, and Private. Ranked battles track wins and losses, while Casual does not. Private battles are for battling friends in private matches. Each mode also offers single and double battle formats, and supports Mega Evolution!
By playing and winning, players earn Victory Points. VP can be used to swap moves, change its nature and ability, and even adjust its stat points.
VP can also be used to unlock new cosmetics, music tracks, and to permanently keep any recruited Pokémon. Nice!
Pokémon Champions will be the new home of official Pokémon tournaments and events, including the Pokémon World Championships in August.
I believe this marks the first time a player won’t need a Nintendo console to play in a Pokémon tournament, once Champions launches on mobile devices later this year. Champions will make its first official tournament debut this May with the Indianapolis Regional Championships.
Pokémon Champions will release on Nintendo Switch on April 8. A free Upgrade Pack will be available for Switch 2 owners, and includes enhanced visual performance. It’s free-to-download, though players can purchase a Starter Pack bundle that includes “additional in-game bonuses that support early progression.”
Pokémon Champions is rated E for Everyone.
