Pokémon Champions (Switch eShop) News Articles
Thursday23rd Apr 2026
News Pokémon Champions Ver. 1.0.3 Update Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Effective against Bugs
A couple of weeks ago, The Pokémon Company announced that it was working on a bug-squashing update to fix up Pokémon Champions' launch state. Well, surprise! Said patch is now live. The ver. 1.0.3 update launched on Switch yesterday, fixing a handful of issues that were immediately pointed out at Champions' launch —...
Saturday11th Apr 2026
Round Up The Reviews Are In For Pokémon Champions
Here's what the critics think
The new "free-to-start" battle game Pokémon Champions launched for the Switch this week and critics have now had their say. Starting with our own review here on Nintendo Life, we said this new title was the most accessible but flawed competitive Pokémon has ever been, awarding it five out of ten stars: "The core...
Friday10th Apr 2026
News Fear Not, Pokémon Champions' Naff Switch 2 TV Resolution Is Fixable
Doctors hate this one simple Dock trick
Even if we overlook the limited launch Pokémon, the swathe of bugs, and the strange monetisation, Pokémon Champions still had more issues up its sleeve — talk about a dramatic launch, eh? Those playing in Docked Mode on Switch 2 might have noticed that the latest battler looked... a bit naff. Up on the...
Thursday9th Apr 2026
News Pokémon Champions Bug-Squashing Update Is In The Works, Here's What's Being Targeted
Bug Spray
Pokémon Champions launched yesterday in a... less-than-perfect state. Fortunately, it looks like The Pokémon Company is working on a fix. Even if we put aside the limited available Pokémon and Items at launch, the game was quickly criticised for the sheer number of bugs on display (and no, we're not talking about Beedrill and Pinsir)...
PSA Pokémon Champions First Mystery Gift Distribution Now Live
Add some muscle to your team
Pokémon Champions has officially arrived on the Switch this week, and putting the teething issues aside for one moment, the battle title's first mystery gift event has now officially gone live. This will allow you to add a Machamp to your party. This Pokémon comes in a Cherish Ball and is equipped with the following...
Wednesday8th Apr 2026
News "Feels Like A Fleshed Out Beta" - Fans Are Unhappy With Pokémon Champions At Launch
Players use Work Up
Pokémon Champions, which stands to become the place for competitive VGC for Pokémon going forward, has arrived on the Switch today as a free-to-start experience. But early impressions from fans and competitive players has been... mixed, to say the least. Promising snappy competitive battles and a way for newcomers to get into...
PSA You Can Now Download Pokémon Champions On Switch
There's also a free update for Switch 2
Pokémon battles level-up today with the release of Pokémon Champions on the Switch eShop. If you aren't already playing it, here's our reminder that this free download is now officially available across Nintendo's storefronts around the globe. Before you jump in, it's worth noting that there's a starter...
Sunday5th Apr 2026
Video 12 Exciting New Games Coming To Switch 1 & 2 In April 2026
Pokémon, Pragmata, Tomodachi Life and more!
April is officially underway, and it's another action-packed month for the Switch 1 & 2 in terms of new releases. There's a little bit of something for everyone - starting with Goat Simulator 3 on Switch 2, which is already available! Next week we've got Pokémon Champions, and in the middle of the month...
Video Pokémon Champions 'World Overview' Trailer Released
Introducing two characters from Frontier City
The new "free-to-start" battle title Pokémon Champions is out next week for the Switch on 8th April 2026, and to help build some excitement, The Pokémon Company has released a new "world overview" trailer. As you might have guessed from the title, this cinematic introduces trainers to the world of...
Thursday2nd Apr 2026
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is Getting Pokémon HOME Connectivity This Week
Update: Pokémon Home Version 4.0.0 is now live
If you've been wondering when Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be getting connectivity with the storage and trading cloud service app Pokémon Home, we've got some news. The Pokémon Company has officially announced Home on Switch and mobile devices will undergo maintenance at 9:00am JST on 2nd April 2026,...
Sunday29th Mar 2026
News Pokémon VGC Competitions Officially Transition To Pokémon Champions
It's the "standard platform" for the VGC going forward
Last year, it was announced Pokémon's Video Game Championships would shift across to Pokémon Champions in 2026. With the "free-to-start" game's release date now locked in for 8th April 2026, it's been officially reconfirmed Pokémon's VGC competitions will transition from Pokémon Scarlet &...
News Pokémon Champions First Details About Price Reportedly Surface
Here's what to expect from the "free-to-start" experience
Pokémon Champions launches as a "free-to-start" game on the Switch next month, and although Nintendo hasn't officially announced the pricing just yet, the first details have reportedly surfaced at PAX East in the US this weekend. As highlighted by Nintendo Everything, YouTube Channel...
Thursday26th Mar 2026
News Pokémon Champions Plans To Keep The Stadium Lights On For A Very Long Time
"Basically forever"
The new battle game Pokémon Champions is now just weeks away from release, and once it's up and running, the plan is to keep it going for as long as possible. Game producer Masaaki Hoshino has revealed how the team wants this new title to go the distance, or "basically forever", as long as the series keeps going, and is...
Wednesday25th Mar 2026
ICYMI Pokémon Champions Is Getting A Free Update For Switch 2
It will be available at launch
The Pokémon Company previously announced Pokémon Champions would be coming to the Switch 2, and it's now been revealed how exactly it will be made available. In case you missed it, alongside the release date confirmation this week, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company confirmed trainers on Switch 2 will have access to...
Tuesday24th Mar 2026
News Pokémon Champions Nails Down Switch Release Date, And It's Only Two Weeks Away
Battle away
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have announced that Pokémon Champions is coming to Switch on 8th April 2026. The iOS and Android release will follow later in the year. While the game won't be getting a Switch 2 version, we will be getting a free update which will boost the visuals on the newer console (separate from that shiny Boost...
Friday27th Feb 2026
News Pokémon Champions Brings The Fight To Switch This April
Are you ready to rumble?
We got our first proper look at Pokémon Champions in last year's Pokémon Presents showcase, and today, TPC has finally spilled the beans on a release date. Or, more accurately, a release window. As revealed at the end of the new trailer (above), Champions will arrive on Switch at some point in April 2026, with the mobile...
Tuesday3rd Feb 2026
News Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch 2 Games
Lots to look forward to?
As is customary with its financial reports, Nintendo has reconfirmed the release windows for its major upcoming games across Switch and Switch 2. The headliners here are undoubtedly Mario Tennis Fever, Pokémon Pokopia, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Switch 2 Edition, all of which will be dropping in February and March.
Tuesday4th Nov 2025
News Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch 2 Games
And Switch, of course!
Nintendo's latest financial data is here, and as expected, the company has reconfirmed the release dates and windows for its upcoming line-up of games. We're still kind of astounded that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has a firm release date, and the fact that it's now so close is just too exciting! Otherwise, this is a pretty solid...
Saturday13th Sep 2025
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A And Pokémon HOME Connectivity Scheduled For 2026
Here are the transfer restrictions
The Pokémon Company this week announced connectivity between Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon HOME is scheduled for 2026. Like other games, once linked, it will allow trainers to transfer Pokémon from the new game to the cloud service (and vice-versa). You'll be able to "bring select Pokémon from past games...
Monday18th Aug 2025
News Pokémon Champions Confirmed For Switch 2, Includes "Free-To-Start" And "Paid" Digital Version
More details will be "shared in the future"
We've just had an update about the new battle-focused game Pokémon Champions at the World Championships, and apart from the news it will lead as the main title for the VGC next year, along with a Mega Evolution update, we've also got details about platforms and pricing. According to the latest press...
News Pokémon Champions Is The Main Battle Game For The 2026 World Championships
The VGC shifts to the new battle entry
We've got another update about Pokémon Champions today, and it confirms the video game competition will shift to this battle entry at next year's World Championships. The 2025 tournament was played on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Alongside this was a look at multiple Mega Evolutions featured in the game,...
Round Up Everything Announced At The 2025 Pokémon World Championships Closing Ceremony
Updates for Legends: Z-A, Champions and much more!
The Pokémon Company president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara made an appearance at this year's Pokémon World Championships closing ceremony and shared updates about multiple Pokémon games, and even some event news. If you weren't able to catch the event live, don't worry - because we've put together...
Saturday26th Jul 2025
Rumour Pokémon Champions Leaks Resurface Ahead Of 2026 Launch
Release window, gameplay details and more
Earlier this week, during the latest Pokémon Presents broadcast, trainers got an update about the new battle game Pokémon Champions – confirming a 2026 launch window for Switch and mobile devices. Now, as highlighted by Nintendo Everything, there are supposedly new details about the game emerging. Thi
Tuesday22nd Jul 2025
News Pokémon Champions Gameplay Trailer Reveals 2026 Launch Window
Just a little longer now...
Whilst we already knew that Pokémon Champions, an upcoming battle-focused game for Switch and mobile platforms, was a thing that is happening, extra details have been fairly thin on the ground this far, including when we'll actually get our hands on the game. Now, thanks to a brand new gameplay trailer which was just...
Watch Pokémon Presents July 2025 - Live!
From Z to A, and D to J...
For the second time this year, we're getting ready for a Pokémon blow-out. Hopefully! Announced earlier this year, 22nd July marks the second Pokémon Presents of 2025. While you're all jamming along to the DJ-ing Pikachu out there, what do we think we're going to see today? The stream kicks off at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm...
Saturday1st Mar 2025
News Pokémon Champions Reveals Multiplayer Battle Mode Options
A new challenger has appeared!
Pokémon Champions was one of the major announcements during the latest Pokémon Presents broadcast and we're still learning all sorts of things about it. The game's website and
Friday28th Feb 2025
News Pokémon Company's CEO Reckons Series Can Reach Its 100th Anniversary
Well sure, why not?
Pokémon's no doubt been at the forefront of everybody's minds this week as we finally got our first proper glimpse at Pokémon Legends: Z-A ahead of its launch later this year. As part of the wider Pokémon Day celebrations, the BBC recently caught up with The Pokémon Company's CEO, Tsunekazu Ishihara, to discuss the franchise...
News Pokémon Champions Limited To "Select Pokémon" At Launch
There'll also be Pokémon HOME restrictions
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the latest Pokémon Presents broadcast was the reveal of the new Switch and mobile title Pokémon Champions. It follows in the footsteps of games like Pokémon Stadium, where the focus is exclusively on trainer battles. As exciting as it is to see the return of this type of...
Thursday27th Feb 2025
News How Would You Rate The Pokémon Presents Showcase For February 2025?
Mega or mediocre?
Well folks, another Pokémon Presents has come and gone, and it pretty much delivered exactly what we were expecting. The biggest draw was obviously Pokémon Legends: Z-A, where we got a good look at some gameplay along with confirmation that Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile will be the game's starter Pokémon. Not only that, but...
News 'Pokémon Champions', A New Battle-Focused Game, Announced For Switch And Mobile
Stay tuned for more info!
As a part of today's Pokémon Presents showcase, The Pokémon Company has revealed a first look at Pokémon Champions, an upcoming battle-focused title for Switch and mobile. There's still a lot that we don't know about this one for the time being, but the reveal trailer puts Pokémon battling front and centre. It looks...
