We’re not going to lie, but for trainers who are at least interested in the strategic aspect of Pokémon, entering the competitive world that is the VGC (Video Game Championship), it’s the kind of thing that has always been scary. Between the natures to optimize, the EVs to farm for hours, the team comps incomprehensible to the uninitiated… the barrier to entry into competitive Pokémon has long resembled a Light Wall launched by Mr. Mime. Pokémon Champions wants to put an end to all this.
First good point, the game includes tutorials designed for beginners. They don’t throw us into an arena and wish us good luck. The combat mechanics are explained, and above all, each attack is now clearly indicated as effective or not, including when changing Pokémon in the middle of combat. A small detail that changes everything when you’re just starting out, and helps even experienced players make better decisions in real time.
The roster at launch will be deliberately limited, and this is no coincidence. Masaaki Hoshino, producer and director of development of the game, confirmed to us during our interview that this is a deliberate decision. Offering a limited number of Pokémon will allow new players to learn the gameplay mechanics without being drowned in options. Pokémon will be added regularly thereafter, without a defined time frame for the moment.
Subscribe to WorldOfSoftware
The competitive one that will no longer take a crazy amount of grinding time
For players who already know VGC, Pokémon Champions represents a colossal time saving. Finished the traditional training which before represents capturing a Pokémon hoping to have the right nature, farming the EVs for hours or starting again if something goes wrong. Here, everything goes through Victory Points (VP), an in-game currency that you earn by playing, and in particular by doing Ranked Battles.
These VPs allow you to directly modify the stats, abilities, nature and talents of Pokémon. Concretely, optimizing a competitive team now takes a few minutes where it once took several hundred hours. A real revolution for anyone who has ever suffered in front of a Pokémon box full of bad-natured rejects.
On the recruitment side, the Roster Ranch offers a new lineup every 22 hours. You can test a Pokémon for free once a day before deciding to permanently recruit it for VPs. And for those who already have a well-stocked collection, Pokémon HOME is compatible with the game, which allows you to import your existing Pokémon directly.
Free, cross-platform, and automatically synced
Pokémon Champions will be released on April 8, 2026 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, then later in the year on iOS and Android. The best news here is that the game is free. No paywall to access the heart of the game, no pay-to-win either, Masaaki Hoshino told us. The idea is to guarantee equal opportunities for all players, especially when we know that from now on, all official VGC competitions will take place on Champions, in particular the 2026 Worlds which marks the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. A Battle Pass system has still been confirmed, but it should only contain items accessible through VPs. Cosmetic elements are being considered, even if nothing has been decided yet.
Crossplay between Switch and mobile will be present, and progression synchronization is automatic, like Pokémon Unite. No need for manipulation, you go from one device to another and you find your team exactly where you left it.
Will the Switch 2 version of Pokémon Champions benefit from graphical changes?
We’re not going to lie to you, if you were hoping for a technical slap on Switch 2, you’ll have to review your expectations. The game runs at 30 FPS on all platforms, including Switch 2. On the other hand, the Switch 2 version will benefit from a better resolution than the others. On smartphones, there are no graphics settings to adjust, but The Pokémon Company has made the effort to optimize the game so that entry-level devices can also play it, which is consistent with the title’s philosophy of appealing to as many people as possible.
Is this disappointing? A little in view of the graphics of the game which are frankly light and held back not this multiplatform aspect. But honestly, when the heart of the game is purely strategic, technique becomes a secondary criterion. Pokémon Champions isn’t a game you play for its graphics, it’s a game you play to win.
Mega-Evolution first, what next?
The first Ranked Battles regulations upon release of the game will authorize Mega-Evolution, with in particular Mega-Dracolossus confirmed at launch. Players will wear a new item, the Omni Ring, a bracelet which will support all the mechanics of the license such as Teracrystallization, Z-Moves or Dynamax. Masaaki Hoshino acknowledges that bringing these four combat systems together will be a challenge, but promises balancing over the course of updates.
The regulations will change regularly to renew the meta, and balance patches are planned on a regular basis. A spectator mode is also on the programperfect for following the games of the best players and learning from them.
Our opinion after this preview
Pokémon Champions honestly made me want to get serious about VGC. Accessibility is there, free is a strong argument, and automatic synchronization between devices is the kind of essential convenience that removes any possible point of friction.
The only real downside remains the decision to technically level down so that the smartphone and Switch 1 version remains on par with the Switch 2. But in a game whose DNA is 100% strategic, it’s frankly a detail.
Tune in on April 8 to see if Pokémon Champions will be the ideal platform to introduce younger trainers to the competitive world of Pokémon.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, follow us on Google and on our WhatsApp channel. And if you love us, .
