Pokémon Champions shares a first gameplay look and confirms 2026 release

It’s been a few months since The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Champions with barely any details — until now. During Tuesday’s Pokémon Presents, Game Freak and The Pokémon Works (a newer subsidiary of The Pokémon Company) finally unveiled new information about their latest competitive title.

The trailer shared some details on what we can expect from the gameplay, including how teams are formed, the types of battles you can have, and UI changes. Battles take place in a stadium surrounded by an NPC audience similar to the arena battles in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Players can either transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Home or form a team via the available roster in Pokémon Champions. Battles can take place privately or through ranked matches globally, where players can participate in either single or double battles. Everything revolves around VP (V-Points): it’s how Pokémon can adjust their stat points, change moves, or change their “stat alignment” (Natures) for set prices. Most notable during battles, there’s a percentage next to Pokémon HP gauges to tell just how much HP a Pokémon has left, as well as an escape button for players to concede battles.

The Pokémon Company previously explained that Pokémon Champions would be a “new, battle-focused game that features familiar mechanics such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves, creating an environment conducive to rich and varied strategies for new and experienced Trainers alike.”

Pokémon Champions will be available on Nintendo Switch and Android and iOS mobile devices sometime in 2026.