Pokemon Champions Review: ILCA's New Take on Competitive Pokemon Faces Performance and Design Challenges on Nintendo Switch 2
The release of Pokemon Champions on Nintendo Switch 2 marks a significant milestone for competitive Pokemon fans.
Developed by ILCA, known for their previous work on Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokemon Champions is positioned as the official platform for future VGC (Video Game Championships) tournaments.
Launched on June 21, 2026, the game aims to streamline the competitive experience while offering new customization features for both trainers and Pokemon alike through Nintendo’s popular hardware and digital storefront, the eShop.
Despite the high expectations surrounding Pokemon Champions, early impressions highlight a mix of notable improvements and substantial drawbacks.
While ILCA has focused on simplifying the process of preparing Pokemon for battle—eliminating time-consuming mechanics like IV breeding and providing users with a single, intuitive menu for customizing stats, moves, and properties—the game has faced criticism for issues extending beyond core mechanics.
A standout advancement is how Pokemon Champions enables players to transfer their Pokemon directly from Pokemon Home, bypassing the in-game recruitment system common to the series.
This streamlined integration is a welcome move for longtime fans looking to bring their established collections into the competitive arena.
Additionally, the expanded trainer customization options, from victory poses to various outfits, enhance player expression and are expected to grow with future updates.
Notably, the game’s Starter Pack is generous, providing players with Training Tickets for effortless Pokemon customization, removing much of the grind traditionally associated with raising competitive teams.
Despite these positives, the performance of Pokemon Champions on Nintendo Switch 2 has been widely criticized.
The game runs at 30 frames per second—a step back compared to the 60 frames per second achieved by recent titles like Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on the same platform.
Users have reported choppy gameplay, frame pacing issues, and noticeable frame drops during battles, even when only a few Pokemon are on screen.
These technical shortcomings are particularly striking given the Switch 2’s hardware capabilities and create a jarring experience for players accustomed to smoother titles.
Further detracting from the launch are limited content offerings.
Pokemon Champions currently features a roster of about 180 usable Pokemon, with many fully-evolved species unavailable at release.
Key competitive items, such as Life Orb and Choice Band, as well as core features, including offline modes and local wireless battles, are missing.
The lack of options extends to battle formats—VGC rules are enforced exclusively, with no alternatives for classic 6v6 single battles, even in private lobbies.
Menu navigation has also been criticized, described as clunky and reminiscent of ILCA’s earlier projects, with low-resolution textures persisting on the system’s newest hardware.
Transferring Pokemon between Pokemon Home and Champions is cumbersome, limiting players to 30 Pokémon at a time and requiring multiple steps to complete the process.
Additionally, trainers cannot train Pokemon in other main series games and import those changes, as Champions overwrites any progress made elsewhere with a static snapshot.
Regarding monetization, Pokemon Champions initially provides generous starter bonuses, such as Training Tickets, but ongoing progression relies heavily on in-game VP (Victory Points).
Earning VP through ranked battles and missions is possible, and there is currently no option to buy VP outright, which helps control spending.
However, the presence of both a $10 Premium Battle Pass and a $50 yearly membership raises questions about long-term accessibility and value for recurring players.
In summary, Pokemon Champions launches as an ambitious effort to unify the competitive Pokemon scene on Nintendo Switch 2, boasting practical improvements in team-building and player customization.
However, technical hurdles, minimal content at launch, and limited gameplay options undermine its potential as the definitive platform for VGC competition.
As the Pokemon community awaits future updates, feedback has been clear: there is fun to be had, but core aspects of the game require significant attention to meet the high standards set by previous entries and the passionate Pokémon player base.
Let us know your experiences and impressions of Pokemon Champions in the comments below.
The release of Pokemon Champions on Nintendo Switch 2 marks a significant milestone for competitive Pokemon fans.
Developed by ILCA, known for their previous work on Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokemon Champions is positioned as the official platform for future VGC (Video Game Championships) tournaments.
Launched on June 21, 2026, the game aims to streamline the competitive experience while offering new customization features for both trainers and Pokemon alike through Nintendo’s popular hardware and digital storefront, the eShop.
Despite the high expectations surrounding Pokemon Champions, early impressions highlight a mix of notable improvements and substantial drawbacks.
While ILCA has focused on simplifying the process of preparing Pokemon for battle—eliminating time-consuming mechanics like IV breeding and providing users with a single, intuitive menu for customizing stats, moves, and properties—the game has faced criticism for issues extending beyond core mechanics.
A standout advancement is how Pokemon Champions enables players to transfer their Pokemon directly from Pokemon Home, bypassing the in-game recruitment system common to the series.
This streamlined integration is a welcome move for longtime fans looking to bring their established collections into the competitive arena.
Additionally, the expanded trainer customization options, from victory poses to various outfits, enhance player expression and are expected to grow with future updates.
Notably, the game’s Starter Pack is generous, providing players with Training Tickets for effortless Pokemon customization, removing much of the grind traditionally associated with raising competitive teams.
Despite these positives, the performance of Pokemon Champions on Nintendo Switch 2 has been widely criticized.
The game runs at 30 frames per second—a step back compared to the 60 frames per second achieved by recent titles like Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on the same platform.
Users have reported choppy gameplay, frame pacing issues, and noticeable frame drops during battles, even when only a few Pokemon are on screen.
These technical shortcomings are particularly striking given the Switch 2’s hardware capabilities and create a jarring experience for players accustomed to smoother titles.
Further detracting from the launch are limited content offerings.
Pokemon Champions currently features a roster of about 180 usable Pokemon, with many fully-evolved species unavailable at release.
Key competitive items, such as Life Orb and Choice Band, as well as core features, including offline modes and local wireless battles, are missing.
The lack of options extends to battle formats—VGC rules are enforced exclusively, with no alternatives for classic 6v6 single battles, even in private lobbies.
Menu navigation has also been criticized, described as clunky and reminiscent of ILCA’s earlier projects, with low-resolution textures persisting on the system’s newest hardware.
Transferring Pokemon between Pokemon Home and Champions is cumbersome, limiting players to 30 Pokémon at a time and requiring multiple steps to complete the process.
Additionally, trainers cannot train Pokemon in other main series games and import those changes, as Champions overwrites any progress made elsewhere with a static snapshot.
Regarding monetization, Pokemon Champions initially provides generous starter bonuses, such as Training Tickets, but ongoing progression relies heavily on in-game VP (Victory Points).
Earning VP through ranked battles and missions is possible, and there is currently no option to buy VP outright, which helps control spending.
However, the presence of both a $10 Premium Battle Pass and a $50 yearly membership raises questions about long-term accessibility and value for recurring players.
In summary, Pokemon Champions launches as an ambitious effort to unify the competitive Pokemon scene on Nintendo Switch 2, boasting practical improvements in team-building and player customization.
However, technical hurdles, minimal content at launch, and limited gameplay options undermine its potential as the definitive platform for VGC competition.
As the Pokemon community awaits future updates, feedback has been clear: there is fun to be had, but core aspects of the game require significant attention to meet the high standards set by previous entries and the passionate Pokémon player base.
Let us know your experiences and impressions of Pokemon Champions in the comments below.
