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MANILA — The Pokémon Company has just announced the updates about the Nintendo Switch and mobile device (iOS/Android) software title, Pokémon Champions, and the release of its newest software title, Pokémon Friends, available on Nintendo Switch and iOS/Android.
Pokémon Champions: Bringing games to everyone
Coming in 2026, Pokémon Champions will be featuring Pokémon battles like those in previous Pokémon
series games. These battles will utilize familiar mechanics such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves,
enabling the rich and varied battle strategies that players know and love. What's more, Trainers can
easily play these battles cross-platform between the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices!
It will also connect with Pokémon HOME, allowing Trainers to team up with certain Pokémon brought
over from past Pokémon series games and Pokémon GO.
For a sneak peek, the latest video about Pokémon Champions is available on the official Pokémon
YouTube channel. Please check out the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DD7_fBmeP0
Recruit Pokémon to join the team
One of the main features of Pokémon Champions is that Trainers can recruit Pokémon to their teams
from within the game. But, before Trainers venture into the world of Pokémon battling, they must try to
find a Pokémon to fight alongside them, and there are two ways to recruit a Pokémon.
● Trial Recruitment
Trainers can recruit Pokémon for a trial period. This makes it possible to try using a Pokémon in battle
right away and test whether it will suit the Trainer’s strategy! Note: Trial Recruitment can be carried out
once per day without using Victory Points (VP).
● Permanent Recruitment
Trainers can use VP to recruit Pokémon to their team permanently. Trainers may choose this option
once they find a Pokémon that’s a good match for them!
Train Pokémon to hone their skills
In addition to recruiting, Pokémon Champions includes another important feature called training. This
feature allows players to use VP to train their Pokémon with ease.
Trainers can hone their Pokémon’s Attack, Defense, and other stats as they like, and easily alter their
Abilities and moves, too. This makes it a cinch to test out all sorts of different battle styles!
Note: Trainers cannot train Pokémon during their trial recruitment period.
Enjoy battling
Three Battle Modes and Two Formats
Trainers can enjoy Pokémon battles in three different battle modes, and these are available in two
different formats: Single Battle and Double Battle.
● Ranked Battles
Ranked Battle mode lets the Trainer test his skills against Pokémon Trainers from all over the world. His
rank will change depending on the battle results, which means he can enjoy intense battles against
Trainers of a similar skill level. He will also be able to obtain VP after his matches, depending on how
they go.
● Casual Battles
This mode lets a Trainer play without worrying too much about wins or losses. He can easily test how his
Battle Team performs against Pokémon Trainers from around the world.
● Private Battles
This mode lets a Trainer player select a format and battle against his family, friends, or other people he
knows. He can also join the same room as the opponent he’d like to face and have an exciting battle
together!
Use Victory Points (VP) to Power Up Your Team
A Trainer will need VP in order to recruit and train Pokémon. VP can be gained from Ranked Battles and
other places in Pokémon Champions. He must keep battling and get hold of VP to power his team even
more! Note: VP cannot be directly purchased.
Eureka Every Day with Pokémon Friends
In another exciting news, the Pokémon Company has released the Nintendo Switch and iOS/Android
software title Pokémon Friends on July 22, 2025.
A game that makes thinking fun!
Pokémon Friends is a game full of enjoyable brain teasers. Its puzzles draw inspiration from the unique
world of Pokémon to create distinctive, brain-tickling challenges. The game was developed with the
hope that Trainers can solve puzzles and enjoy satisfying “Eureka!”; moments with Pokémon.
High-quality, insightful puzzles by Wonderfy
Pokémon Friends contains many puzzles based on those from Think!Think!, an app designed by
Wonderfy Inc., to develop critical thinking skills by using intellectually stimulating quizzes and puzzles.
An experimental trial shows that the puzzles in Think! Think! can have a significant effect on math and
IQ test scores. They have also been proven to have a positive impact on noncognitive skills, like self-
confidence and motivation to learn. Wonderfy Inc. is a studio seasoned in creating educational content.
Pokémon Friends aims for Trainers to enjoy these kinds of high-quality puzzles on a regular basis in
game form, where they can cultivate their critical-thinking skills and come to find the act of thinking
itself enjoyable.
The effectiveness of the educational app Think! Think! was tested on elementary school students in
Cambodia. In the experiment, children who used the app saw a standardized score increase of +6.7
points in mathematics and +7.0 points in IQ. The students' noncognitive skills, like motivation to learn and confidence, were also positively affected. These effects were consistently seen across all students
(regardless of factors such as sex, gender, home environment, etc.), and showed potential to help
eliminate the education gap. An external evaluation of this study was carried out by Professor Makiko Nakamuro of Keio University using a randomized controlled trial (RCT). (/)
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(Sources: https://www.rieti.go.jp/jp/publications/nts/19e040.html,
https://www.rieti.go.jp/jp/publications/nts/20e074.html)
For more photos, please click the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GqL4motW23yEeo07h8vRURaH5kc-jo-5?usp=drive_link