The second season of Pokémon Champions is underway, though there have been no changes to the standalone battler just yet.
However, there are large plans for future updates according to the game’s producer, Masaaki Hoshino.
Across interviews with Famitsu and GamerBraves, Hoshino confirmed upcoming features and the addition of new Pokémon, including the possibility of legendaries.
Pokémon Champions Will Add New Pokémon and Items Every Three Months
Many players were disappointed to find Pokémon Champions Season M-2 has the exact same roster of mons and items.
Mashino confirmed that this limited roster was to help encourage new players to try competitive Pokémon:
“I am delighted to see a significant number of new players starting their Pokémon battle journey with Pokémon Champions.
“From a newcomer’s point of view, having a pool of over 1,000 Pokémon and a massive array of items from the start would not only bring confusion in team-building but also create an overwhelming burden.”
And he also confirmed that the game will “prioritize ease of use for beginners” when Pokémon Champions releases on mobile.
However, Mashino also confirmed that new Pokémon will be released every three months and the developers intend to introduce more held items.
This planned three-month schedule lines up with what was previously shared, with updates to the roster coming June 17 with Regulation Set M-B.
However, the developers will likely stick to a limited roster with Mashino adding:
“We believe that seeking ‘optimal solutions’ within a limited environment is part of the fundamental fun of battling, which is why we decided to release the game in its current format.”
Legendary and Unevolved Pokémon Could Be Coming
While asked about possible additions to the game, Mashino teased that legendary Pokémon will likely be added to the game in future.
Asked whether Pokémon will possibly be removed when regulations change, Mashino confirmed it’s possible:
“Nothing is decided yet, but I think it’s a possibility. Currently, the regulations allow for Mega Evolution, but when this switches to a different system, I think we’ll introduce Pokémon that are compatible with that system.”
This then led to the producer hinting at how legendary Pokémon could be handled in the competitive game, saying:
“I think there may be a time in the future when legendary Pokémon will also be usable, so in that sense, I don’t think that once they’re introduced, they’ll continue indefinitely.”
Mashino also said that unevolved Pokémon could be added to champions in the future, alongside the Eviolite item which makes Pokémon like Dusclops and Clefairy very viable with buffed defences.
However, he remains cautious of such an addition, stating:
“For this first season, we prioritized clarity for new players. We felt it would be easier for them to understand the current environment if battles focused primarily on final-evolution Pokémon.
“We intend to proceed cautiously to ensure the environment doesn’t become oversaturated or overly complex.”
New Arenas And Player-Hosted Tournaments Confirmed
Additionally, Mashino confirmed two new features being worked on for Pokémon Champions.
The first is the addition of new arenas for battles to take place in, with the producer promising “they will be even more visually engaging.”
And Mashino also revealed his desire to allow players to host their own competitions:
“We believe that it is ideal to include a system that allows players to host their own competitions. We are moving forward with preparations to make this a reality, so we would appreciate your patience for a little while longer.”
However, one feature that the developers currently have no plans for is a replay system.
This is supposedly due to technical issues, particularly in keeping old replays compatible with newer versions of the game.
What feature or change would you like to see made to Pokémon Champions? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Plus, there are various Pokémon that could shake up the Pokémon Champions meta, especially if Mega Staraptor is as broken as it’s expected to be.
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