Pokémon Presents August 2024 Recap: New Games, Mega Evolutions, and Animated Series Announced

The Pokémon Company Group delivered an exciting array of announcements during its latest Pokémon Presents, streamed worldwide and brimming with key updates for fans and industry observers alike.

The presentation covered upcoming video game releases, new expansions for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and teased the next era of Pokémon animation — all reinforcing the franchise’s global appeal across multimedia platforms including Nintendo Switch, mobile devices, and more. Pokémon Legends: Z-A—Release Date and New Features Revealed Headlining the event, The Pokémon Company confirmed fresh details for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the highly anticipated title launching on October 16, 2025, for both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.

In Z-A, players will explore the bustling Lumiose City by day, encountering Pokémon in wild zones.

Among these are Alpha Pokémon—formidable, larger creatures with glowing red eyes that offer a challenging catch and intense battles. Nightfall in Lumiose introduces the Z-A Royale, a competitive battling arena where trainers climb the ranks against stronger opponents.

Promotion matches pit players against formidable figures like Corbeau, leader of the Rust Syndicate, an organization operating in the city’s shadows.

Investigative elements are woven throughout, with NPCs like detective Emma offering quests to track missing Pokémon and retrieve lost items.

Trainers can further assist Mable, the Pokémon Research Lab’s acting director, in analyzing population surges, earning Technical Machines (TMs) and other rewards in return. Central to Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the emergence of Rogue Mega Evolution, which sees wild Pokémon mysteriously mega evolving and causing havoc across Lumiose City.

Players teaming up with Team MZ to calm these Pokémon will earn coveted Mega Stones.

The game also officially reveals Mega Dragonite, distinguished by its enhanced flight abilities and unique Dragonair-inspired design. Pokémon Champions—2026 Launch and Gameplay Details The broadcast also unveiled details for Pokémon Champions, a new combat-driven adventure set for release in 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, as well as iOS and Android devices.

Pokémon Champions introduces an innovative recruitment system, allowing trainers to secure Pokémon for their team either on a trial basis or permanently through Victory Points (VP), earned in various battle formats.

The game includes robust team training options, letting players adjust stats and abilities for competitive edge. Three main battle modes are available: Ranked Battles (skill-based global competition), Casual Battles (non-ranked matchups), and Private Battles (versus friends and family), supporting both Single and Double Battle configurations.

Additional details are available on the official Pokémon Champions website. Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu—Animated Series Teased In animation news, The Pokémon Company and Aardman, famed for their stop-motion expertise, provided a first look at 'Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu,' coming in 2027.

The teaser, viewable on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, promises a comedic stop-motion journey through the Pokémon world, blending Aardman’s signature charm with Pokémon storytelling. Pokémon Friends—Puzzle Game Launches on Nintendo Switch and Mobile Available immediately following the presentation is Pokémon Friends, a family-friendly puzzle title developed with Wonderfy Inc.

for Nintendo Switch (including the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2), iOS, and Android.

With more than 1,200 puzzles, the game encourages critical thinking as players earn yarn to craft virtual Pokémon plushies, which can be used to fulfill in-game requests or decorate personalized rooms.

Pokémon Friends supports up to five save files, making it accessible for every member of the household.

More information can be found on the official Pokémon Friends website. Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Expansion Arrives September 2025 Card game enthusiasts can look forward to the Mega Evolution expansion launching September 26, 2025.

Highlighted cards include Mega Lucario ex, Mega Kangaskhan ex, Mega Gardevoir ex, as well as connected artwork featuring Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Mega Venusaur ex.

Promo cards such as Paradise Resort and Worlds Celebration Pikachu will be awarded to competitors at the Pokémon World Championships, held August 15–17, 2025, in Anaheim, California. Additional announcements covered new updates for existing Pokémon titles — including Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Violet, Pokémon GO, Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon Masters EX, Pokémon Café ReMix, and Pokémon Concierge.

For a full recap, fans can access the entire Pokémon Presents presentation on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.

Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Pokémon Legends: Z-A Pokémon Champions Pokémon Presents Mega Evolutions mobile The Pokémon Company Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Legends Z-A Pokémon Friends Aardman Wonderfy Inc. Pokémon Trading Card Game Pokémon World Championships Team MZ Mega Evolution Lumiose City Corbeau Rust Syndicate Emma Mable Mega Dragonite Mega Lucario ex Mega Kangaskhan ex Mega Gardevoir ex Bulbasaur Ivysaur Mega Venusaur ex Paradise Resort Pikachu Pokémon Scarlet Pokémon Violet Pokémon GO Pokémon Sleep Pokémon UNITE Pokémon Masters EX Pokémon Café ReMix Pokémon Concierge