Pokemon Champions will take over from the mainline video games which have served as the first platform for the Video Recreation Championships (VGC) sequence since 2009. Whereas many particulars concerning the upcoming sport stay underneath wraps, Pokemon Champions already seems poised to finish one of many longest-standing traditions in aggressive occasions.
When the primary official VGC World Championship was held 16 years in the past, Trainers competed utilizing the mainline game Pokemon Platinum. Since then, each subsequent occasion has adopted the identical custom, utilizing the most recent Pokemon launch because the competitors’s battleground. However that may change in 2026, when a brand new entry within the franchise lastly launches.
Pokemon Champions Is VGC Occasions’ New Central Hub
In response to The Pokemon Firm, when Pokemon Champions arrives in 2026, it is going to turn into the central hub for all VGC-related actions. In different phrases, Trainers will deliver their Pokemon to this sport and use it as the world for all championship battles. It has additionally been confirmed that the sport is appropriate with Pokemon Dwelling, permitting followers to make use of critters captured in different installments. Nevertheless, it isn’t clear which pocket monsters will probably be eligible for in-person occasions.
One other unconfirmed element is how gamers will accumulate Championship Factors (CP) earlier than Pokemon Champions debuts. Usually, when the annual World Championships conclude, all participant CPs are reset, they usually should compete in regional or international Play! Pokemon events to earn credit for subsequent 12 months’s contest. Nevertheless, for the reason that new central hub will not be launched till 2026, it is unclear whether or not the present CP accumulation course of will proceed or if will probably be modified.
One other key replace for future Pokemon VGC occasions is that Mega Evolution will probably be allowed. Mega-evolved Pokemon final performed a major position within the in-person competitions again in 2019, when Extremely Solar and Extremely Moon have been the most recent mainline titles. With the imminent release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, these sturdy creatures seem able to return to aggressive matches and are prone to stay an enduring characteristic.
Pokemon Champions does not have a launch date but, however it has been confirmed to be launching on each cellular and Nintendo Swap consoles someday in 2026. The sport will are available two editions: one free-to-play, probably with restricted options, and one other with paid content material, presumably unique to Swap consoles. Extra particulars about Pokemon Champions and its impression on the forthcoming Play! Pokemon competitions are anticipated to be revealed within the close to future.