Big changes are happening for , signaling the end of an era for the popular game series. Season 41, which began on April 1st, will be the last competitive season ever for the games.
The Pokémon Video Game Championships are becoming Pokémon Champions with the release of the new game on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 8, 2026. From now on, Pokémon Champions will be the official platform for all competitive Pokémon battles, including major events like the Turin Special Event, the North America International Championships in June, and the Pokémon World Championships in August.
Competitive Battles Leave the Mainline Games
Competitive Pokémon battles are moving away from the main series games, ending a long-standing tradition that began in 2008. While Season 41 will still include battles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet after the release of Pokémon Champions this month, these games won’t be the official center for VGC competition anymore. The next chapter begins with the Pokémon Regional Championships in Indianapolis from May 29-31, which will be the first official event of the new Championship Series. Registration for this event opened on April 1st.
As a competitive Pokémon player, I’m really excited about this! It means we won’t have to wait for updates to Scarlet and Violet anymore, and we’ll finally have tournaments all running on the same game. It’s also great for everyone who just enjoys the story and exploring – the main games can really focus on making those experiences amazing without having to constantly worry about balancing things for competitive battling. It feels like a win-win for all Pokémon fans!
Pokémon Winds and Waves Arrives Next Year
Okay, so the next big Pokémon games are coming in 2027, and they’re exclusive to the new Nintendo Switch 2! They announced them during the 30th anniversary event, and honestly, I’m hyped. It sounds like the region is a tropical paradise – think beaches, jungles, and volcanoes. We’ll be doing a lot of sailing and diving, which is awesome. It feels like a fresh start for the series, but the big change is they’re ditching the competitive battling we’ve seen in the main games. Not sure how I feel about that yet, but it’s definitely a big shift!
Players can currently battle each other competitively in the game. These battles are the main part of the experience, and you’ll build a team of Pokémon to compete in 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 matches, both ranked and casual. A new currency called Victory Points (VP) will let you train your Pokémon, teach them new moves, and purchase items, outfits, and customization options. You can add Pokémon to your team from within the game or transfer them from Pokémon HOME.
Pokémon Champions is scheduled to launch on April 8, 2026, for both Nintendo Switch and the new Nintendo Switch 2. Mobile versions of the game will be available later in the year.
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2026-04-03 22:39