Pokémon is one of the biggest franchises in video games, which is why every February those in charge celebrate the arrival of the original games to present the projects that will determine the brand's immediate future. Through the Pokémon Presents event, Game Freak and the other studios belonging to The Pokémon Company offer their new releases to give players a sneak preview of what will be available on Nintendo consoles and mobile devices in the coming months. And in 2025, the news has arrived packed with exciting developments for users who enjoy the classic games and, at the same time, the competitive side.

Because if Pokémon Legends Z-A was already officially announced, The Pokémon Company had an ace up its sleeve for the latest presentation to date: the so-called Pokémon Champions, which responds to users' need for a video game focused solely and exclusively on the competitive battles of the series, one of the aspects that has been growing the most in recent years. In this way, the Pokémon franchise continues to explore different business avenues, looking for ways to satisfy its fans, especially after the arrival of Pokémon TCG Pocket, a video game that emulates the excitement of the physical collectible cards that have been generating a huge craze among players for years.

All of this ahead of 2026, when the franchise will celebrate its 30th anniversary, a turning point for Pokémon with the arrival of the tenth generation that could change everything that has been established to date. The immediate future of the series is therefore of great interest as we continue to define the next steps for one of the most profitable brands of all time.

Pokémon Legends Z-A, a new way to understand the Pokémon world

The most immediate title to land in the Nintendo Switch catalogue will be Pokémon Legends Z-A, which follows in the footsteps of Game Freak's great invention Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which managed to win over the public with a completely different approach to what the series had done up to that point. With the title set in Lumiose City, the capital of the Kalos region, the Japanese studio wants to go a step further, creating an urban ecosystem in which people and Pokémon can coexist, giving meaning to the gameplay of the new entry. A dynamic that features a more adult tone in the universe of the series.

And it's not the only change that has been introduced this time around, because beyond the method of capturing Pokémon in defined areas in the city, battles will also undergo a huge evolution with the arrival of Pokémon Legends Z-A. For the first time in its entire history, Pokémon will abandon turn-based battles in favour of direct action where the trainer and Pokémon can move freely around the battle arena to execute attacks and perform dodging maneuvers. The Legends sub-series seems destined to introduce changes that break away from the classic dynamic and offer a breath of fresh air for players.

All this with the return of the community's most beloved mechanic: mega-evolution. As yet, no Pokémon has been revealed to have this ability that allows it to transform into a more powerful form for a limited time, so Game Freak is saving the surprise for closer to the game's release, which will be available on Nintendo Switch in late 2025.

Pokémon Champions, a new dimension for competitive battles

Pokémon Legends Z-A will not be alone in its adventure, however, as the development of Pokémon Champions was one of the most celebrated announcements by the Pokémon universe's gaming community. Fans had been asking for years for an official platform to enjoy these battles, something that was being achieved through fan-created tools. The Pokémon Company has finally decided to address this issue with an official game that is able to provide all the excitement of Pokémon battles at the most competitive level there is.

For now, mega-evolution and terastallization, two of the phenomena that have been most successful among players in transforming the dynamics of the franchise's battles, have been confirmed. As such, Pokémon Works studio, in charge of development, is working to include a selection of creatures suitable for battling and deliver a roster worthy of such a game, which could become the ideal platform for professional players who want to test their teams before participating in official tournaments.

Pokémon Champions is currently in development for Nintendo consoles and mobile devices, with a presumed release in 2026. In doing so, Pokémon is demonstrating its intention to continue innovating and stepping into a new era that will maintain interest in the franchise for another 30 years of existence and beyond.