We were promised a mobile version of Pokemon Champions, and now we know when we're going to get it. The battle-only Nintendo Switch exclusive Pokemon game launches on phones June 17, 2026, and it will be running a Mega Raichu event across both platforms to celebrate.

Pokemon Champions Mobile Release Date Revealed

Confirmed today, the mobile version of Pokemon Champions will launch on June 17, arriving on both iOS and Android on the same day. If you have already been playing Champions on Switch, there's cross-progression, so you can bring your progress with you to the new platform and battle across both, provided you sync up your Nintendo account and use that single account on both platforms.

There's also cross-play so you can compete against Switch trainers even if you're playing on mobile, and vice versa.

To celebrate the mobile launch of Pokemon Champions, a Raichu event that introduces the Electric-type to the game will begin on June 17 and run until September 2, 2026. All you need to do to get Raichu and the two two Megastones you need to evolve into both of its Mega Evolved forms is log in to Pokemon Champions at any time during that period.

The Raichu and its Mega Stones will be delivered to your in-game mailbox after you've logged in for the first time once Pokemon Champions has been released on mobile later this month. Even if you don't play Champions on your phone, and you never plan to, you'll still get the Raichu on Switch provided you log in at least once during what is a pretty sizable window to qualify for the free gift.

Pokemon Champions Will Remain Free-To-Play With The Same Paid Options On Mobile

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The same payment options will apply to the mobile version of Pokemon Champions. Like on Switch, the game is not only free-to-start, but really free-to-play unless you go really deep on stat and moveset customization. You can pay extra for a starter pack and the game's battle passes, but even if you don't, you can still get a lot out of the game.

I've been playing daily since it launched on Switch, and I'm yet to spend a single penny. Sure, my team is terrible, but that's a skill issue, not a payment one.

Pokemon Champions is a game that's going to be here for the long-term. It has effectively been created so that the Pokemon VGC doesn't need to hop from game to game for competitive play. That will all take place inside of Champions from now on, but it has a long way to go to convince a lot of fans that that was the right call. No doubt once it arrives on mobile, its player pool will grow exponentially, and its experimental stage can really be kicked into gear. Maybe there will finally be some teams without an Incineroar in them.

Pokemon Champions Like Follow Followed Action Fighting Systems Released April 8, 2026 ESRB Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence Developer(s) The Pokémon Works, Game Freak Publisher(s) Nintendo Multiplayer Online Multiplayer 6 Images Close
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Genre(s) Action, Fighting Powered by Expand Collapse

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