Pokemon Champions releases on Switch in 2 weeks, but a battle pass and extra purchases already loom over the F2P launch

Pokemon Champions now has a release date, with a free Switch 2 update also coming on the same day to enhance the visuals for anyone playing on Nintendo's latest console.

We already knew that Champions was set to launch sometime in April, but now we know exactly when that is – April 8, at least on Nintendo Switch. The mobile version's launch date remains unknown, so presumably that's still on track to arrive at some point this year, as was stated during last month's Pokemon Presents.

Pokemon Champions is essentially the modern-day answer to Pokemon Stadium, serving as a hub for PvP turn-based battles. Thanks to Pokemon Home compatibility, you'll be able to use Pokemon that you've already trained in the previous games, but you'll also be able to recruit new 'mons within the game itself. So, in theory, even someone who's never played a mainline Pokemon game will be able to get into the competitive scene.

Pokémon Champions – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch - YouTube

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That's especially relevant given that Pokemon Champions is set to be the new hub for the series' Video Game Championships (VGC). Up until now, tournaments have taken place in the latest generation mainline games – right now, that's Scarlet and Violet. However, in August, the Pokemon World Championships will use Champions, instead, after its first use at the Indianapolis Regional Championships in late May. Here's hoping the April launch gives competitors enough time to get used to the new setup before then.

As a free-to-play game, however, it remains to be seen how prevalent in-game purchases and microtransactions will be in Pokemon Champions. Today's news has given us a glimpse into that already, detailing a "Starter Pack bundle" that will be available at launch, which includes "in-game benefits like added Pokemon storage space, an extra battle song, and more." A separate press release notes that both a Premium Battle Pass and Membership will be available to buy, too, although no further details of what these will include were revealed.

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