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Both games named in the 2025 announcement have since arrived: Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released on October 16, 2025, and battle-focused Pokémon Champions launched on Nintendo Switch in April 2026 and on iOS and Android in June 2026. They serve different purposes: Legends: Z-A is an adventure set in Lumiose City, while Champions centers on Pokémon battles.
What happened to the 2025 release promise?
The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Legends: Z-A for October 16, 2025, on Nintendo Switch. That date has passed; the game is no longer an upcoming release. The announcement also described a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Switch owners could access that edition by purchasing an upgrade pack, according to The Pokémon Company’s release-date announcement.
Is Pokémon Champions available now?
Yes. Pokémon Champions launched on Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2026, and on iOS and Android on June 17, 2026, according to The Pokémon Company International. Mobile players can battle players on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2; the game page confirms cross-platform play.
Champions is free-to-start, with optional in-game purchases and a Starter Pack bundle listed on its official game page. It is not a required paid purchase.
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- Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack
How are the two games different?
| Game | What it focuses on | Platforms and access |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | An adventure set in Lumiose City | Nintendo Switch and a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition; Switch owners can purchase an upgrade pack, as described in the release announcement. |
| Pokémon Champions | Battle-focused play | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS and Android. Free-to-start, with optional purchases; mobile and console players can battle across platforms, according to the official game page. |
Can Pokémon Legends: Z-A connect to Pokémon HOME?
Yes, with restrictions. Eligible Pokémon can be sent from Legends: Z-A to Pokémon HOME, and the game can receive select Pokémon from previous games. Pokémon sent from Z-A cannot be transferred back to earlier titles, and each game only accepts Pokémon that can appear in it. See The Pokémon Company’s HOME connectivity notice for the stated limits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is Pokémon Champions’ role in official competition?
The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Champions as the official platform for Video Game Championships (VGC) battles at the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. The event has since taken place; the announcement describes the game’s competitive role, rather than a future tournament plan. Details were published in The Pokémon Company International’s Worlds announcement.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Don the role of a Pokémon Trainer as you travel through Kanto
- Discover a new species of Pokémon with the Pokémon Lets Go series
- Catch Pokémon in the wild using a gentle throwing motion with either a Joy-Con controller or a Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits
- Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one!
Rank #3
- Revisit the Sinnoh region from the original Pokémon Pearl Version game and set off to try and become the Champion of the Pokémon League
- The Pokémon Shining Pearl game brings new life to this remade classic with added features
- Explore the Grand Underground to dig up items and Pokémon Fossils, build a Secret Base, and more.
- Test your style and rhythm in a Super Contest Show
- A reimagined adventure, now for the Nintendo Switch system
Rank #2
- Play as a Pokémon as you talk to, befriend and fight alongside your favourite characters
- Revisit the classic in this beautiful watercolour remake of the first Mystery Dungeon - on Nintendo Switch for the very first time
- Your personality decides who you are. Answer questions about yourself to see which of the 16 Pokémon starters you will become
- Meet over 386 Pokémon and go on adventures with your handpicked rescue team to save the world from natural disasters
- Explore Mystery dungeons that change terrain, enemies and rewards every time you enter?
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