Pokemon Champions is a new Pokemon game that will put the focus on trainer battles. Set to come to mobile and Switch, the PVP competitive experience was officially announced early this year during the February 2025 Pokemon Presents showcase.
Joining the lineup of upcoming Switch games alongside the much anticipated Pokemon Legends Z-A, Pokemon Champions looks set to tap into some nostalgia by putting the spotlight on "Pokemon battles from core Pokemon games", with the ability to fight with Pokemon from your collection across console generations using Pokemon Home. It's already giving modern Pokemon Stadium vibes, with Takato Utsonomiya, COO at The Pokemon Company, Pokemon Champions will see you "pitting your skills against those of other trainers from around the world".
With a wealth of Switch 2 Direct news following the big Nintendo showcase, we're still waiting on word about whether Pokemon Champions will also be coming to the new-gen console in the future, but there is always the possibility. While we wait it out for more news, read on below as we take you through everything we know so far about Pokemon Champions.
Pokemon Champions release date is unconfirmed
Having just been revealed, the Pokemon Champions release date has yet to be set – though we know it to be "now in development," according to the Pokemon Presents showcase. With a possible Nintendo Switch 2 launch hinted at, however, it could be some time before we get a firm release date – especially with Pokemon Legends Z-A revealed to be coming in "late 2025" as part of the same livestream event.
Pokemon Champions platforms
Pokemon Champions will launch on "the Nintendo Switch family of systems" as well as iOS and Android smartphones.
While we've yet to get confirmation on whether or not it will be coming to the Switch 2 following the April Direct - which gave us a look at lots of exciting upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game - the mention of "Switch family" means we could see it come to the new-gen console in the future. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for any updates.
Pokemon Champions gameplay
Despite being signposted as "not actual" Pokemon Champions gameplay footage, there's lots to be gleaned from the trailer in terms of the overall vibe and aesthetic we might expect from the game. It begins with a blast from the nostalgic past, charting the best Pokemon games progression across console generations as players of all ages get in on the fun. We see its humble origins on Game Boy, the Wii, Nintendo DS, and finally, a shot of a woman gazing in awe at a mobile device. The shot then changes to show a man sitting on his sofa at home playing on the Nintendo Switch, and it's revealed that the two are locked into a real-time Pokemon Champions battle from across the globe.
Here, we see some more flavors of what Pokemon Champions might look and feel like. The arena each player stands in is huge, all blue-tinged metal illuminated by large stadium screens and strobing spotlights, as an enthusiastic audience cheers from the stands.
Sharing the stage, we see Charizard and Samurott going up against Dondozo and Aegislash – and right as Charizard unleashes an attack, it cuts to the title card. It seems Pokemon Champions could be harnessing a splashy sense of showmanship, turning trainer battles into immersive, all-out spectacles whether you're playing on mobile or Nintendo Switch. It also can be connected to the Pokemon Home cloud system for an even more personalized experience, allowing you to "team up with Pokemon who joined you on your adventures in previous Pokemon games."
Interestingly, the trailer also shows Mega Evolutions which were introduced in Pokemon X and Y, alongside Terastalization forms from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, so it looks like we'll be able to make use of these power moves in battle when we step into the arena.
Pokemon Champions developer
Pokemon Champions is being developed by The Pokemon Works, which also developed Pokemon Sleep and is tasked with maintaining Pokemon Home. It makes Pokemon Champions' built-in synergy with the cloud service make that much more sense, but the studio isn't going it alone. Mainline franchise developer Game Freak is supporting The Pokemon Works by "carrying out the planning for this project," teaming up to deliver a confluent PvP online experience that still feels part of the broader Pokemon universe.
Check out the other upcoming Switch games slated for 2025 and beyond
