We've got our first look at a long-awaited new multiplayer Pokemon battle game -- and you don't have to choose between a console or a phone to play it.
First revealed in a notorious leak from late 2024, the new battler has been in development for a while. Now Pokemon Champions is finally official with a reveal on Pokemon Day.
The trailer for the new game, above, pays respect to the franchise's legacy by showing off how much easier multiplayer battling has become over the years. There's no need to plug together your Gameboys with a link cable anymore -- just connect to the Wi-Fi and you're in the money.
Generation one Pokemon clashed with generation nine Pokemon in an epic battle arena. Nobody was surprised to see Charizard, but the presence of Dondozo, Hisuian Samurott and Aegislash suggest a very wide range of Pokemon will be present in Pokemon Champions.
Here's everything we know about the new Pokemon battler's reveal.
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A Pokemon battler for every single fan
The double battle format is going to make a return in this competitive battler.
The Pokemon CompanyThe Pokemon franchise has pincered two particular gaming markets to great success. The pocket monsters got their start on Nintendo consoles, where they've always been super popular. Games like Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus have cultivated a fanbase of Pokemon fans on the Nintendo Switch.
Over the past decade, though, The Pokemon Company has made a significant investment in the mobile space. Pokemon Go reignited Pokemania in 2016, and games like Pokemon Masters, Pokemon Cafe ReMix and Pokemon TCG Pocket have succeeded on iOS and Android.
Pokemon Champions is the culmination of this strategy. Focusing on multiplayer Pokemon battles, the game is accessible to Switch, iOS and Android players, allowing these disparate fanbases to butt heads in cross-platform battles.
Big battle mechanics are making a return
The most lauded battle mechanic is returning from generation six. Mega Pokemon will finally have a purpose after collecting dust in Pokemon Home.
The Pokemon CompanyThe trailer for Pokemon Champions confirms the return of Mega Pokemon from generation six and Terastallization from generation nine. No Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed Pokemon participated in the battle, and no Z-Moves were shown off.
Even still, Pokemon Champions will likely include the trademark battle mechanics of all of the recent mainline Pokemon generations, allowing players to pick and choose what strategies they want to use as they build battle-ready teams.
Pokemon Home integration supports this idea: Players with hundreds of Pokemon with different mechanics attached will finally have a hub they can transfer these creatures into and unlock their full potential.
It remains to be seen how Pokemon Champions will balance the implementation of such a diverse array of battling mechanics, but one thing is for certain: This will be the most chaotic Pokemon battler ever released.
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