Pokémon Campions is the new home for competitive Pokémon VGC, but its launch earlier this year left out some key parts of what we expected from the product. Today, we learned when two of those gaps are getting filled – on June 17, Champions comes to mobile, and the newly introduced Mega Raichu X and Y will be launching alongside it.
One of Champions’ original selling points is that it was coming to both console and mobile, with crossplay between the two platforms. Ideally, you can play on your Switch at home to get the best visuals, but you can take the game in your pocket to play a quick battle while you’re out and about. The mobile port is finally launching just over two months after the console version’s launch, so that concept will soon be a reality.
Mega Raichu X, as seen in Pokémon Champions
The other missing piece from Champions’ launch was the absence of Mega Raichu’s two forms. Pokémon Legends Z-A introduced the new variation of Pikachu’s less famous older sibling, so it felt like a no-brainer to include in Champions’ starting lineup, but it was notably absent. Yes, there are hundreds of other Pokémon left out of the roster in Pokémon Champions, but Raichu is present and mega stones are present, so it wasn’t irrational to assume Mega Raichu would also be on the way. Seeing it announced now makes perfect sense, however – The Pokémon Company was holding it back for this announcement, to make the mobile version make a bit more of a splash.
To make it even more appealing to jump back in, it sounds like all players will get Raichu and both its mega stones for free, just by signing in. According to a press release, “From Wednesday, June 17, 2026, to Wednesday, September 2, 2026, players can receive Raichu, Raichunite X, and Raichunite Y by checking their in-game mailbox. These rewards will be available in both the Nintendo Switch and mobile app versions of the game.”
To keep things fresh in the VGC scene, there’s a regular rotation of Pokémon allowed in competitions at any given time. Mega Raichu X and Y will usher in Pokémon Champions’ second-ever set of viable Pokémon, and we’re curious to see how much it shakes up the battle system.
If you’re interested in downloading the mobile version, you can pre-register on Android and iOS devices starting today. For more Pokémon Champions, check out our review, where we praised Pokémon’s tried and true battle system, but made clear that the package surrounding it can feel thin and inconsistent.