It has been confirmed that the new title 'Pokemon Champions' will serve as the official video game discipline for the 2026 Pokemon World Championships.

During the closing ceremony of the 2025 Pokemon World Championships, the organisers unveiled next year’s lineup and upcoming fan events. While TCG, Pokemon GO, and Pokemon Unite remain staples of the circuit, the video game category will pivot to the upcoming 2026 release, 'Pokemon Champions'.

The Pokemon World Championships, which kicked off with its TCG division back in 2004, has long been the definitive stage for the franchise. Since the video game category was formally introduced in 2009, competitors have relied on the latest flagship title of that year. For the 2022 to 2025 period, 'Pokemon Scarlet and Violet' held the mantle.

Pokemon Champions is a competitive-focused title announced this year. The title allows players to import Pokemon raised in other series entries or scout them directly for ranked bouts. The core combat remains faithful to the classic series, but with a twist: familiar faces like 'Aegislash'—absent from 'Pokemon Scarlet and Violet'—are making a comeback. Furthermore, legacy battle gimmicks including Mega Evolution, Dynamax, and Z-Moves are set to return.

What really has the core fanbase buzzing, however, is the streamlined training process. The developer has implemented a new 'Training' system that replaces the tedious grind for specific stats with a straightforward point-based allocation. Players can even customise natures, moves, and abilities on the fly.

The announcement also provides a clearer roadmap for the release. With the 2026 Pokemon World Championships scheduled for August 28, it’s a safe bet that the game will hit shelves no later than August.

Pokemon Champions is slated for a 2026 launch across mobile, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, and will be free-to-play.