It’s the end of an era for competitivePokémonVGC, and while fans have likely been expecting the change for some time now, the switch to a new generation game is both exciting and scary. Just as the format shifted fromShield & SwordtoScarlet & Violet,it’s time for a new and modernized format to takeScarlet & Violet’splace.
PerGamesRadar,Pokémon Championswill be replacingScarlet & Violetas the official competitive VGC format, marking the end of an era for the franchise.Championswas announced earlier this year and will release in 2026 on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and mobile.
Pokémon Champions Will Replace Scarlet & Violet For VGC
The Next Generation For Competitive Pokémon Is Coming In 2026
Pokémon Championswill be the newest setting for competitive VGC once it launches in 2026, officially cycling out the current generation,Gen 9’sScarlet & Violet. VGC is the official tournament format for competitivePokémonbattling atregional, national, and world championship levels.
The format changes and updates after a while, so this shift won’t be a huge surprise. For example,Scarlet & Violetis the Gen 9 format thatreplacedSword & Shield(Gen 8). As such,Pokémon Championswill be theofficial Gen 10 iteration for VGC.
Crucially, as reported byNintendo Life, it will become the official competitive game for VGC atPokémon World Championships 2026,further emphasizing a transition to the new generation.
What We Know About The New Pokémon Game So Far
Pokémon Champions Is The Next Big VGC Move
Pokémon Championsis a highly anticipated, battle‑focused spin‑off unveiled in early 2025 that reimagines competitivePokémonplay as a standalone experience. Developed by The Pokémon Works in collaboration with Game Freak, it’s slated for release in 2026 on the Nintendo Switch family (including Switch 2) and mobile platforms.
Pokémon Championsis a dedicated, streamlined battle game. It emphasizes competitive formats, leverages Pokémon HOME, includes dynamic mechanics like Mega Evolutions and Terastalization via the Omni Ring, anduses a Victory Points system for team customization.
Championszeroes in on PvP battling, offeringsingles and doubles options across three different formats, including Ranked, Casual, and Private matches. Streamlined training systems will make stat redistribution and other modifications easier as well.
Pokémon Championswill apparently be “free-to-start,” as opposed to free-to-play, thoughit isn’t entirely clear what this means. The full statement from the game’s PR is as follows:
“Pokémon Champions is a free-to-start game coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices in 2026. More details on a paid digital version of Pokémon Champions on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch systems will be shared in the future.”
Players will have to wait untilPokémon Championsofficially releases next year to see what it has to offer, and competitive players will need to start preparing for the transition.
