Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Pokémon Champions: everything we know so far

Add as a preferred source on Google
Two Pokémon clashing in Pokémon Champions.
Game Freak

Pokémon Day is always full of fun announcements and reveals for the monster-hunting franchise. Not every presentation will show off one of the best Pokémon games, but they do include some nice surprises like Pokémon Champions. This upcoming video game will be focused purely on the thrill of battling your monsters in fierce competition, bearing a lot of similarities to the old Pokémon Stadium games. We don’t know a ton about this Nintendo Switch 2 and mobile game yet, but we know it will be coming after Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but this is all the information there is right now about Pokémon Champions.

Release window

Charizard and other pokemon battling in Pokémon Champions.
Game Freak

Pokémon Champions was revealed with no release window, but during the Pokémon Presents July 2025 presentation, we learned that it is set to release sometime in 2026.

Recommended Videos

Platforms

Pokémon Champions is confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, iOS, and Android with full cross-platform support.

Trailers

Pokémon Champions! | Announcement Trailer

The announcement trailer was a surprise drop during the Pokémon Day live stream in February 2025. The trailer shows how Pokémon battles have evolved through the generations, starting with kids battling on their Game Boys using link cables up to the modern day where players will face off online with their phone or Switch.

Being described as a battle-focused game, we don’t expect any real story or even much in terms of single-player content to look forward to here.

Gameplay

The second look at Pokémon Champions cleared up a lot of details surrounding the battles. Players can either import or catch Pokémon within the game to take into battle, but training them is very different. Now, it appears as though you will be able to freely adjust your Pokémon’s stats and moves freely. Battles can be done in either singles or duos, and played in ranked or private matches.

One great feature is the ability to import your Pokémon stored in Pokémon Home. The fine print does specify that not all Pokémon will be compatible, likely since Pokémon Champions probably won’t feature the entire roster, but odds are you will be able to bring your favorite monster from Home into Pokémon Champions.

Preorder

During the Pokémon World Championships 2025Nintendo confirmed that Pokémon Champions will have a free-to-start version on all platforms as well as a paid digital version only on Switch and Switch 2. More details about how much the paid versions will cost and what they will include were promised to be shared in the future, but we at least know that there will be a free option for this title.

Jesse Lennox
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jesse Lennox covers all things gaming but has a specific interest in all things PlayStation, JRPGs, and experimental indies…
The AI game-dev boom has a dark side: fewer jobs for the people starting out
Solo creators are thriving with tools like Claude Code and Copilot, but entry-level game roles are disappearing.
Man playing a video game on a desktop with glowing red and blue lights

AI is making it easier than ever for a single person to build a game. That sounds like a win for creativity, and in many ways, it absolutely is. But there is a catch. As generative AI tools help solo developers and small studios do more with fewer people, the same shift is making life tougher for writers, artists, concept creators, and junior programmers trying to break into the gaming industry.

AI is giving solo developers superpowers

Read more
ONEXPLAYER’s new handheld packs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and liquid cooling at an eye-watering price
The X2 Mini Pro is now available directly from the company with premium specs to match its premium cost.
ONEXPLAYER X2 Mini Pro Featured

Gaming handhelds have become more powerful every year, but they're also getting increasingly expensive. The new ONEXPLAYER X2 Mini Pro takes that trend to an entirely new level. Following its crowdfunding campaign, ONEXPLAYER has begun selling the X2 Mini Pro directly through its online store. The premium handheld starts at $2,499, while the fully loaded configuration with 64GB RAM, a 2TB SSD, and the optional Frost Bay liquid cooling system climbs to a staggering $3,229. Deliveries are expected to begin in August.

Desktop-class hardware in a handheld

Read more
Call of Duty: NEXT is back, and it’ll kick off the Modern Warfare 4 beta
Activision has revealed when players can watch new gameplay, catch fresh reveals, and jump into the first Modern Warfare 4 beta.
Call of Duty NEXT featured

If there's one thing Call of Duty fans look forward to every year besides launch day, it's Call of Duty: NEXT. This year's showcase is shaping up to be even bigger, as it won't just reveal more about Modern Warfare 4 -- it'll also mark the beginning of the game's multiplayer beta. Activision has officially confirmed that Call of Duty: NEXT will take place on August 21, featuring live gameplay, a detailed multiplayer briefing, developer insights, and new reveals. For the first time, the Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta will begin immediately after the livestream ends, letting players jump straight into the action.

When can players join the beta?

Read more