The Pokémon Champions release window has been revealed during the 30th Anniversary Pokémon Presents showcase.
The competitive Pokémon game will arrive on Nintendo Switch consoles in April 2026, with its mobile (iOS and Android) debut occurring later on in the year, ahead of the Pokémon World Championships.
To celebrate the launch announcement, Pokémon is holding an in-game campaign. Players can obtain up to four mega stones by transferring Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja and Eternal Flower Floette from Pokémon Legends: Z-A to Pokémon Champions using thePokémon Home hub.
Pokémon Champions was first revealed to the world on Pokémon Day last February. In July 2025, the game then outlined its focus on competitive battles, as opposed to monster catching.
Players can transfer Pokémon from the Pokémon Home hub or build a team with the in-game roster. The game allows players to compete in either singles or double matches in private or online lobbies.
The Pokémon Champions release date was one of many announcements made during the showcase, which included updates to Pokémon Unite, Pokémon TCG, and the reveal of the 10th generation, Pokémon Winds and Waves.
Pokémon Champions For Esports
The game releases ahead of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, which will be held from August 28th to 30th, 2026 in San Francisco, US, alongside the inaugural Pokémon XP fan experience.
Previously, Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) events were held on the latest mainline release, which was Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Starting in 2026, Pokémon Champions will be used as the VGC software for Champion Series tournaments and the Pokémon World Championships.
It is important to note that for certain regions, Scarlet and Violet may still be used for the Championship Series.
The Pokemon World Championship is a competitive tournament organised by Play! Pokémon that serves as the crowning event for Pokémon Unite, Pokémon Go, TCG and VGC. Over 3,000 players are invited to compete based on their performance in regional, national and international events held throughout the season.
