Pokémon Champions Sets April 8 Launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

Pokémon Champions has moved from a general reveal to a concrete launch plan. The official Pokémon Champions site now says the battle-focused game will launch on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 8, 2026, while the broader project is still set to arrive on mobile devices later in 2026.

The overview materials make clear what The Pokémon Company wants this game to be. Rather than a traditional exploration-heavy RPG, Pokémon Champions is centered on battles and competitive team-building. The company says the game keeps familiar systems such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves, aiming to create a place where both newer players and experienced trainers can build strategies without a large open-world or story campaign getting in the way.

That direction matters because the official site also says Play! Pokémon competitions will begin transitioning to Pokémon Champions in April and May 2026. In other words, this is not just another spin-off trailer beat. The game is being positioned as a live competitive platform that can connect the broader ecosystem across Nintendo hardware and mobile.

The team-building layer is also designed around continuity. Players will be able to bring some previous partners into the game through Pokémon HOME, while also recruiting Pokémon inside Champions itself. The site highlights battle modes, roster growth, cosmetic customization for trainers, and challenge-based rewards as key parts of the ongoing loop.

Commercial details suggest a service-style model. Pokémon Champions is described as a free-to-start game, and the company says a Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack bundle plus optional in-game items will be sold separately, with pricing to be shared later. That phrasing points to a lower barrier to entry on day one, but it also means players will be watching closely to see how monetization is balanced against competitive fairness.

The official site adds one important caveat: all current screenshots and game footage come from a product still in development and are not final. Even so, the April 8 date gives Nintendo Switch players a firm target, and the competition handoff makes Pokémon Champions one of the more consequential multiplayer launches on Nintendo's 2026 calendar.