Pokémon Champions Launches April 8, 2026 on Switch

The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Champions, a new battle-focused entry in the franchise, will launch on April 8, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The free-to-start title emphasizes competitive strategy, allowing players to assemble teams of six Pokémon for online battles, and marks the return of Mega Evolutions to structured play.

Revealed initially during the Pokémon Day 2025 livestream and expanded upon at the 2026 event, Pokémon Champions shifts away from traditional exploration in favor of turn-based combat reminiscent of earlier spin-offs like Pokémon Stadium. Players can engage in single or double battles across three online modes: ranked for competitive matchmaking, casual for unrecorded matches, and private for custom rooms with friends. Strategies include swapping Pokémon mid-battle, leveraging type advantages, and activating Mega Evolutions, with new abilities showcased for evolutions of Feraligatr, Meganium, and Emboar from Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

To build teams, players connect to Pokémon HOME from day one, transferring compatible Pokémon from mainline titles such as Scarlet and Violet, Legends: Z-A, and remakes like FireRed and LeafGreen,...