Some Pokémon were apparently misgendered in the new game.
Pokémon Champions, launched on 8 April, introduced fans to a new competitive battling platform for the franchise. However, the game made a rough first impression, attracting complaints about its graphical limitations, widespread bugs, and considerable lack of content. The developer, The Pokémon Works, responded quickly with an apology and outlined their next steps to improve the game.
“We will continue to investigate any other bugs not listed above. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your continued support of Pokémon Champions,” the developer said in an update.
Pokémon Champions
Release date: 8 April, 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and mobile platforms (planned for later release)
Developer: The Pokémon Company
What bugs are developers fixing in Pokémon Champions?
The Pokémon Company has addressed issues that misgendered some Pokémon like Gallade at launch, as well as correcting HP display errors when using certain status moves such as ‘Haze’ and ‘Sunny Day’. When activating Encore, the Lightning Rod ability could trigger incorrectly, and when certain Pokémon used ‘Dragon Dance’, their Attack and Speed did not increase–these issues have now been fixed.
However, additional bugs and errors are still under investigation. The developer has outlined planned fixes, including correcting the bugged ‘Leech Seed’ description, resolving further gender display errors, and addressing cases where certain moves cannot be selected under specific conditions.
One of the most serious bugs–where some players “lose” their Pokémon in limbo following failed transfers from Pokémon HOME–is also being investigated.
What is Pokémon Champions?
Pokémon Champions is the newest video game from the established franchise, focusing on providing a competitive battling platform for players without the storytelling or exploration elements. It features a standard competitive setting with ranked progression, allowing players to strategise their Pokémon line-ups for each battle.
The game notably adopts the official competitive format of 4v4, rather than the traditional 6v6, which has been a drawback for many players. Pokémon Champions also currently has a reduced roster of 186 Pokémon and some missing items, although the developers are expected to release more through regular updates.
