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Pokemon Champions

All articles tagged with #pokemon champions

Inside Pokémon Champions: how Game Freak selects Pokémon and rolls out new features
gaming9 days ago

Inside Pokémon Champions: how Game Freak selects Pokémon and rolls out new features

Pokemon Champions’ producer Masaaki Hoshino explains that at launch the game will feature a curated roster of around 200 Pokémon, chosen through a set process and rules developed with the development team. Shigeki Morimoto of Game Freak is involved in decisions on who appears, with Mega Evolution timing being carefully managed. Early selections aim for Pokémon that are easy for beginners to understand in battles, with possibilities for future appearances like Clefairy and Porygon2. A new Omni Ring will handle Terastallization and other features, with balancing approached cautiously. The game is available on Nintendo Switch with a free update for Switch 2 players.

Pokémon Champions: Dev says they truly did their best amid rough launch
gaming28 days ago

Pokémon Champions: Dev says they truly did their best amid rough launch

Pokémon Champions faced a rocky debut on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with fans criticizing animation, bugs, and missing content. In an Eurogamer interview, producer Masaaki Hoshino said the team “truly tried to do our best” in both graphics and gameplay, stressing a strong focus on a fair, robust battle system. He highlighted new visuals like per-Pokémon shadows for depth and rebuilt battle effects, while noting development is ongoing and he plans to return to help, signaling the game remains a work in progress despite the launch backlash.

Pokémon Champions Dev Defends Debut as Updates Loom
games28 days ago

Pokémon Champions Dev Defends Debut as Updates Loom

Pokémon Champions launched on Switch with a mobile version planned, but fans criticized its small roster, bugs, and missing Pokémon seen in trailers. Game director Masaaki Hoshino defended the title, saying the team did its best and noting limited on-screen Pokemon compared to Pokkén Tournament. The game is planned to receive periodic updates and new seasons that add more Pokémon, items, and rules, with The Pokémon Company positioning Champions as the official platform for competitive play—so improvements are expected over time.

Pokémon Champions Dev: Graphics Constrained by Platform Limits
gaming29 days ago

Pokémon Champions Dev: Graphics Constrained by Platform Limits

Pokémon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino says the game has to operate within significant graphics limits, highlighting past work on Pokkén Tournament and the need to support mobile alongside Nintendo Switch 2, with a capped 30fps on Switch 2. He notes improvements like per-Pokémon shadows and enhanced battle effects but acknowledges ongoing trade-offs and that visuals may improve in future updates.

Pokémon Champions: Mixed Reception as Free-to-Start Battler Hits Switch
gaming1 month ago

Pokémon Champions: Mixed Reception as Free-to-Start Battler Hits Switch

Critics have weighed in on Pokémon Champions after its Switch release: Nintendo Life judged it the most accessible yet flawed competitive Pokémon game, criticizing its monetization, bugs, and performance; IGN reported a lackluster launch, while outlets like ScreenRant, Dexerto, and GameSpot offered a range from mixed to favorable assessments. Many reviews praise the onboarding and potential for future updates but fault the initial content gap and grind, signaling that the game may improve with patches and new modes over time.

Pokémon Champions Gets First Patch To Fix Bugs Like Leech Seed and Mega Evolution Glitches
gaming1 month ago

Pokémon Champions Gets First Patch To Fix Bugs Like Leech Seed and Mega Evolution Glitches

The Pokémon Company is preparing a bug-fix patch for Pokémon Champions on Switch, targeting issues such as Leech Seed description errors, turn order with simultaneous Mega Evolutions, Encore/Lighton Rod quirks, and move-selection glitches; a fix for Pokémon HOME transfers has already been implemented, and the update should arrive before the competitive scene fully ramps up.

Pokemon Champions Gets First Patch to Fix Home Transfers and Battle Glitches
technology1 month ago

Pokemon Champions Gets First Patch to Fix Home Transfers and Battle Glitches

Pokemon Champions on Nintendo Switch is getting its first patch to fix launch-day issues, including Pokémon HOME transfer errors, incorrect Leech Seed damage wording (correct in battle), potential Mega Evolution order problems when both sides Mega Evolve, gender mislabeling in the tutorial and released teams, Encore’s interaction with Lightning Rod, and a move-selection quirk when viewing Mega Evolution details; fixes are planned for future data updates or maintenance, with a separate note about a communication error during expeditions via Pokémon HOME.

Machamp Debuts as First Mystery Gift in Pokémon Champions on Switch
gaming1 month ago

Machamp Debuts as First Mystery Gift in Pokémon Champions on Switch

Pokémon Champions on Nintendo Switch has kicked off its Mystery Gift event, granting Machamp in a Cherish Ball with Dynamic Punch, Stone Edge, Ice Punch, Bullet Punch and No Guard via code CHAMP10N. Redeem from the main menu > Submenu > Mystery Gift; if it shows as already redeemed, check your Mailbox or restart the game for the Special Campaign Gift notification to add Machamp. The code expires August 31, 2026. As an early bonus for playing before that date, you’ll also receive Dragonite and 100 Quick Coupons.

Pokémon VGC Rebrands as Pokémon Champions for a 2026 Competitive Era
gaming1 month ago

Pokémon VGC Rebrands as Pokémon Champions for a 2026 Competitive Era

Pokémon's VGC will move to the Pokémon Champions platform in 2026, with Champions launching on Nintendo Switch (and a free Switch 2 upgrade) on April 8, 2026. The first official events are Global Challenge I (May 1–4) and the Indianapolis Regional Championships (May 29–31; registration opens April 1), with the 2026 World Championships (Aug 29–30) also using Champions as the main battle platform; a mobile release is planned later in the year with detailed regulations on the Pokémon site.