Pokémon Champions launches this week on Nintendo Switch — and you can find out exactly when you’ll be able to start playing right here.
Nintendo’s big new free-to-play spinoff has been designed as the Pokémon franchise’s main competitive battle platform for years to come — potentially until there’s 10,000 Pokémon species, rather than the current 1,000-odd. Champions hosts your favorite creatures transferred through Pokémon Home from a raft of other games in the series — and yes, it’ll allow you to bring in Mega, Gigantamax, and Terastallized Pokémon — though it will only support a small selection to start with.
While individual Pokémon games and generations may come and go, Champions is the single focus for competitive play going forward, and that all begins on Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2) as soon as today in some regions around the world.
Pokémon Champions technically has an April 8 release date, but due to the nature of its global launch, the title will become available to download and play at different times around the world. (A smartphone version of the game for iPhone and Android devices will meanwhile launch separately later this year.)
And while Champions is a free-to-play game, a paid-for Starter Pack will allow you to store more Pokémon (an additional 50) and receive a smattering of other extras. Beginning this year, Champions will replace the most recent mainline Pokémon games (Scarlet and Violet) to become the de facto game for Pokémon tournaments, including at the World Championships this summer.
Ready to get started? Check below to find out exactly when you’ll be able to begin playing Pokémon Champions, wherever you are.
Pokémon Champions Global Release Times
Sydney (AEST)
- 13:00, April 8
Tokyo (JST)
- 12:00, April 8
Paris (CEST)
- 05:00, April 8
London (BST)
- 04:00, April 8
New York (EST)
- 23:00, April 7
Los Angeles (PST)
- 20:00, April 7
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
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