Pokémon Champions is coming to the Nintendo Switch on April 8th | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Pokémon Champions is coming to the Nintendo Switch on April 8thComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsNintendoCloseNintendoPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NintendoPokémon Champions is coming to the Nintendo Switch on April 8thThe game’s Pokémon Home connectivity will make it way easier to build teams with your favorite monsters.The game’s Pokémon Home connectivity will make it way easier to build teams with your favorite monsters.by Charles Pulliam-MooreCloseCharles Pulliam-MooreFilm & TV ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Charles Pulliam-MooreMar 24, 2026, 3:10 PM UTCLinkShareGiftCharles Pulliam-MooreCloseCharles Pulliam-MoorePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Charles Pulliam-Moore is a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years.Right now, Pokopia has everyone busy building houses and beautifying the world, but next month, we’ll be making our pocket monster friends fight for sport in Pokémon Champions.Today, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced that Pokémon Champions is set to make its debut on the Nintendo Switch family of consoles on April 8th before the mobile phone version of the game releases some time later this year. People playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2 will also receive a free update on April 8th that improves the game’s graphical quality. In addition to the new launch date, Nintendo also dropped a new trailer that showcases new footage and explains how Champions will be able to connect with other games in the Pokémon franchise.While Champions will give you access to a random selection of pokémon that you can temporarily recruit to use in battle, you will also be able to bring your own monsters over from Pokémon games like Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon Go via the Pokémon Home app. This could make Champions a great place to show off groups of your favorite pokémon who might otherwise just be stuck in boxes. But The Pokémon Company says that Champions is set to become the new primary platform for competitive play, so you might want to pick the monsters you bring over very carefully.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Charles Pulliam-MooreCloseCharles Pulliam-MooreFilm & TV ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Charles Pulliam-MooreGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsNintendoCloseNintendoPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NintendoPokemonClosePokemonPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PokemonMost PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USDonut Lab’s solid-state battery could barely hold a charge after getting damagedConfronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated meVideoSome writing advice from Project Hail Mary’s Andy WeirThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Pokémon Champions is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on April 8th, a release date announced by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. This launch precedes the mobile version of the game, set to arrive later in the year. Alongside the launch date, a new trailer has been unveiled, demonstrating new gameplay footage and detailing the game’s integration with the wider Pokémon franchise. A key feature highlighted is the connectivity with Pokémon Home, allowing players to seamlessly integrate their Pokémon from titles such as Scarlet and Violet, and Pokémon Go. This integration represents a significant shift, enabling players to bring their established teams into the new Champions experience. Charles Pulliam-Moore reports that while the game will initially offer randomized selections of Pokémon, the ability to import Pokémon from other games through Pokémon Home is intended to become the primary method for competitive play, suggesting a strategic element related to team composition. Nintendo has stated that Champions intends to establish itself as the principal platform for competitive Pokémon battles. The update on April 8th also enhances the game’s graphical quality for Nintendo Switch 2 users.