Every year there is an official Pokémon World Championships. These have players competing in multiple games, including Pokémon Unite, Pokémon GO, Pokémon TCG, and Pokémon Video Games. The event has grown in recent years with new Pokémon games and players competing for bragging rights and cash prizes.
The Pokémon World Championships has also been the place for big reveals in the franchise. Pokémon fans all around the world excitedly await the Pokémon World Championships every year, not just to see the heated competition, but for the announcements during the closing ceremonies. This year was no exception. There were two big announcements for Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions that could change the video game series forever.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is already set to shake up the franchise with the introduction of real-time battles. Up until now, the mainline Pokémon games have always been turn-based. Even Pokémon Legends: Arceus stuck to that formula, only experimenting with movement during battles and a style system rather than going fully real-time.
It’s worth noting that both Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A are considered mainline entries by The Pokémon Company. That’s significant, since “mainline” has traditionally meant a new generation with paired versions and the familiar turn-based formula. Z-A breaks that mold while still holding that status.
One of the biggest reveals at the Pokémon World Championships was the introduction of Z-A Battle Club, a new 4-player link battle mode. Matches are three-minute free-for-alls where Trainers score points for every KO, and the player with the highest score at the end wins. Gameplay footage confirmed that this mode includes ranked play, and the official website shows that link battles can be done online or through local communication, with both ranked and private matches available.
All of this is a huge change to the competitive structure. Ranked Pokémon battles have always been one-on-one, but Z-A introduces real-time chaos with four players at once. If it becomes a core competitive format, it could completely redefine how players approach ranked play in the series.
This is pretty huge because the gameplay video indicated it was a ranked battle. The official Pokémon Legends: Z-A website also shows that Linked play involves either ranked or private battles. Players can also play their matches online or with nearby players via local communication. The real-time battles and 4-player chaos make this an interesting choice for the ranked format of the game. It is very different from normal ranked battles in the past, since they were always between two players.
This also shows how Game Freak is willing to try new things, not just with the battle system, but also in how they treat multiplayer. One major criticism fans have about Pokémon is that the games feel too similar, so it seems Game Freak received the message and adapted. Interestingly, ranked play currently seems limited to the new free-for-all format, while private battles allow for adjustable rules and “up to three other players.” That wording leaves the door open for 1v1 or doubles matches similar to traditional VGC formats,
Pokémon Champions Is the Next Official VGC Format
There’s been speculation for some time, but it’s now official: Pokémon Champions will be the platform used for Pokémon VGC. This was the biggest announcement from the closing ceremonies for several reasons. Most importantly, it signals a likely release in early 2026, possibly January, since players will need enough time to get used to the game before Worlds. The official website confirms a 2026 launch window, and releasing ahead of the Championship Series would ensure the competitive scene has proper preparation.
Beyond that, it could mean that Pokémon Champions, or a Champions-like game, will be used from now on in Pokémon VGC. This not only affects competitive Pokémon, but traditional games as well. With Pokémon Champions’ new training feature, players no longer need to undergo the time-intensive training foundin other games. Players will only need to get the Pokémon they want into Pokémon Champions, then they can train them however they want.
This shift also frees up Game Freak to take bigger risks with future mainline games, similar to what is happening with Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Competitive players will still have Pokémon Champions as their platform, while single-player fans can experience new gameplay experiments without worrying about balance for VGC. By separating the competitive scene from the traditional releases, the mainline titles no longer need to carry the pressure of serving both audiences at once.
The Pokémon Champions Announcement Is a New Era for the Franchise
The move to Pokémon Champions brings with it some major changes. The game will be playable on both Nintendo Switch and mobile, with full connectivity to Pokémon Home. One of the most important mechanics players need to consider is Victory Points, or VP. VP is required to permanently recruit Pokémon that don’t transfer and to train any Pokémon for battle. While training is described as streamlined and instant, the amount of VP needed to fully build a competitive team is still unclear.
One positive side is that there’s no pay-to-win element to Pokémon Champions. Players cannot directly purchase VP, so progression comes only through consistent play. This ensures a level playing field, though time investment becomes the deciding factor. Those able to play more will naturally earn more VP, giving them access to a wider pool of trained Pokémon.
Transfers from Pokémon Home also add an extra layer of consideration. Pokémon that have already been raised for VGC can be moved into Champions, but if compatibility issues pop up or if stats are reset, they will still need VP to be retrained. For long-time competitors, this could be a frustrating setback. On the other hand, it would ensure everyone starts from the same point, creating an equal playing field regardless of past investment.
It was also confirmed that the first official ruleset will use Mega Evolution. Interestingly, the device that enables this feature is called an Omni Ring rather than a Mega Ring. The wording suggests that the Omni Ring may be a flexible tool designed to handle any past battle gimmick, such as Dynamax or Terastallization.
Right now, it’s not clear if these mechanics will be mixed together or rotated over time. Based on the phrasing, a rotation-style system seems most likely: starting with Mega Evolution, then switching to another mechanic in the future. If this ends up being the case, it would completely reshape the competitive meta. Certain Pokémon are only viable with Mega Evolution, while others gain strength from Dynamax or Terastallization.
This change would bring a huge amount of variety to competitive play, but it also increases the demands on players. More Pokémon would need to be trained to account for different rulesets, and by extension, more Victory Points would be required to stay competitive.
The Pokémon Company has steadily expanded the number of games included in its official competitive series over the years, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A could be next. While it was not announced for the 2026 World Championships, its ranked battle system is so different from traditional VGC that it could easily be treated as a separate competitive game. Even if Z-A itself is never added, future Legends titles may find their way into the competitive lineup.
It is also possible that The Pokémon Company is using this moment to test player reactions. On one side, Pokémon Champions has been confirmed as the new home for official VGC battles, and on the other, Z-A is introducing a fresh multiplayer format. If Pokémon Legends: Arceus was well-received, and Z-A proves just as popular, Game Freak will likely continue the series and refine its ranked systems until they are strong enough to stand alone as their own competitive branch.
Meanwhile, the Pokémon World Championships continue to grow each year. By separating VGC into its own platform with Pokémon Champions and experimenting with bold new gameplay in titles like Z-A, the competitive scene may become more accessible than ever. This could lead to larger tournaments, more participants, and even longer events. The idea of Worlds expanding into a week-long competition doesn’t feel impossible anymore, and it could very well happen if the upcoming games succeed.
Of course, there are some potential issues that could arise, like if the game grows but the timeframe and player caps for events stay the same. If that were the case, players would have to get lucky to even have a shot at competing, because official tournaments wouldn’t be able to let in every player who wants to join. Either way, the future of Pokémon is definitely changing, which is something many players have wanted for years. Game Freak and The Pokémon Company just need to make sure that they don’t stray too far from the series fans love.
