{"id":136647,"date":"2026-03-29T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-199243"},"modified":"2026-03-29T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T16:00:00","slug":"pokemon-vgc-competitions-officially-transition-to-pokemon-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2026\/03\/29\/pokemon-vgc-competitions-officially-transition-to-pokemon-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"Pok\u00e9mon VGC Competitions Officially Transition To Pok\u00e9mon Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Pokemon<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last year, it was announced Pok\u00e9mon’s Video Game Championships would shift across to Pok\u00e9mon Champions<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n

With the “free-to-start” game’s release date now locked in for 8th April 2026<\/strong>, it’s been officially reconfirmed Pok\u00e9mon’s VGC competitions will transition from Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet & Violet<\/a> to Champions as the “standard platform for all competitive matches” going forward.<\/p>\n

The first major event putting Champions in the spotlight will be the Indianapolis Pok\u00e9mon Regional Championships taking place in the US between 29th – 31st May 2026, with registration opening on 1st April 2026.<\/p>\n

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“VGC will transition to Pok\u00e9mon Champions as the standard platform for all competitive matches with its launch on the Nintendo Switch systems on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Pokemon<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s also been confirmed that competitors won’t have to wait until the Indianapolis Regionals for an official event featuring Champions. ‘Global Challenge I’ will take place between 1st – 4th May 2026. Along with this, Champions will be used at some side events at Regional Championships during April and May.<\/p>\n

As previously confirmed, this year’s Pok\u00e9mon World Championships, taking place between 29th – 30th August 2026, will also use Pok\u00e9mon Champions as its main battle platform<\/a>. For more details about the regulation and format of the Pok\u00e9mon VGC going forward, you can check out the Pok\u00e9mon website.<\/p>\n

Pok\u00e9mon Champions will be available on the Switch, and Switch 2 users will also get a free update at launch<\/a> featuring enhanced visual performance. This will follow with a mobile release at some point later this year.<\/p>\n

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