Tag Archives: Pokemon Champions

Game News

Pokémon Champions Hits 10 Million Downloads — Claim Your Free Dragonite Before 31 August

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It took less than four months. Pokémon Champions, The Pokémon Company’s first dedicated online battle title, has now crossed 10 million cumulative downloads worldwide across Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and mobile — and to thank players, the developers are handing out a free Pokémon that can Mega Evolve.

Pokémon Champions battle screen showing Gardevoir vs Hydreigon with move selection UI
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Champions | World Overview Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

Free Dragonite and 100 Quick Coupons for Every Player

To mark the milestone, The Pokémon Company announced on 8 July 2026 that all players who log in and play Pokémon Champions by Monday, 31 August 2026 will receive:

  • Dragonite — the Dragon/Flying powerhouse, ready to battle immediately
  • 100 Quick Coupons — the in-game currency used to unlock moves and Power-Ups

Both rewards are delivered directly to your in-game mailbox. There is nothing to enter; simply log in on any platform before the deadline.

Dragonite using Hydro Pump in a Pokémon Champions stadium battle
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Why the Dragonite Reward Is Worth Claiming

Dragonite is not just a participation trophy. Players who completed the Season 1 Battle Pass already have access to the Dragoninite stone, which lets Dragonite Mega Evolve into Mega Dragonite — one of the most versatile Mega Evolution forms added to the competitive format so far. If you skipped the Battle Pass, the free Dragonite still slots directly into ranked play without any extra grind.

Pokémon Champions team builder screen showing Arcanine stats and moveset
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Singapore’s Stamp on the Milestone

The 10 million figure covers all platforms globally, and Singapore punched well above its weight in that number: when the mobile version launched on 17 June, Pokémon Champions shot to #1 on the Singapore App Store within hours. That chart position was a sign of just how much appetite there is here for a proper competitive Pokémon format on mobile — and it clearly contributed to the worldwide download pace.

The game already doubles as the official platform for Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) play, and The Pokémon Company hosts Monthly Challenge Series (MCS) tournaments in-app with Pokémon prizes every month. Singapore trainers have been competing seriously since the Switch launch in April, and the ranked ladder is live on both platforms.

Pokémon Champions post-battle ranked result screen showing Poké Ball Tier Rank 4
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

How to Download Pokémon Champions

The game is free to download on the Nintendo eShop (Switch and Switch 2) and on the App Store and Google Play. If you have not played before and want the free Dragonite, just download, log in, and check your mailbox — the reward unlocks without any additional steps.

Check your in-game mailbox before the 31 August 2026 deadline. That is your only window to grab one of the most in-demand Dragon-types in the current competitive format for free. More details on the current season’s events are on the official Pokémon Champions news page. For a guide to everything happening in Game News this week, stay with GameTrader.

Game News

Pokémon Champions Mobile Is Here — Singapore Hit #1 on iOS

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Singapore trainers, we showed up. Pokémon Champions — The Pokémon Company’s official competitive battling game — launched on iOS and Android on 17 June 2026, and it shot straight to #1 on the Singapore iPhone App Store on day one. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, here’s everything you need to know.

🏆 Pokémon Champions is coming to mobile platforms June 17! — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

What Is Pokémon Champions?

Unlike the mainline RPGs where you explore towns and catch Pokémon in the wild, Pokémon Champions is built around one thing: battling. It strips the adventure down to a pure competitive experience — types, Abilities, moves, held items, the works — putting you up against real trainers from around the world in ranked matches. No story mode, no catching wild encounters. Just strategy and team-building, which is exactly what competitive players have always wanted.

The game first launched on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on 8 April 2026. The mobile version, which arrived on 17 June 2026, brings that same competitive experience to iOS and Android with no content stripped out. It’s free-to-start.

Singapore Hit #1 — and We Weren’t Alone

Pokémon Champions gameplay screenshot showing a battle on mobile
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

On launch day, Pokémon Champions topped the iPhone App Store free downloads chart in 13 countries — and Singapore was one of them. Across Asia, the game went #1 in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand as well. Even in Western markets it was dominant: USA, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Brazil all had it at the top.

As of June 18, it was still #1 in 9 of those countries, top 5 in 29 countries, and ranking in the top downloads overall in 38 countries. On Google Play, it’s already sitting at a 4.4-star rating across over 21,000 reviews. Singapore, you delivered.

Battle on Mobile, Switch, or Both — It Doesn’t Matter

Pokémon Champions cross-platform gameplay between mobile and Nintendo Switch
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

One of the best things about the mobile launch is the full cross-platform play. Mobile trainers go up against Switch and Switch 2 players — there’s no split player base. If you’ve already been grinding ranked on your Switch since April, you can link your Nintendo Account and your save data carries over to mobile. Pick up right where you left off, on the bus, during lunch, anywhere.

Regulation M-B and Season M-3 of Ranked Battles also kicked off alongside the mobile release, so this is a good time to get in on the current competitive meta from the ground floor.

Grab Your Free Mega Raichu Before September

To celebrate the mobile launch, The Pokémon Company is giving every player a free Raichu along with Raichunite X and Raichunite Y — the Mega Stones that power up Raichu’s two new Mega forms in Champions. Log into the game, check your in-game mailbox, and claim them. The offer runs until 2 September 2026 (Singapore time), so there’s no rush — but no reason to wait either.

Pokémon Champions is free to download on the App Store and Google Play. The game does have optional paid content, so keep that in mind if you’re playing on a budget.

Last words

Singapore’s #1 ranking on launch day isn’t a surprise — competitive Pokémon has a passionate community here, and a dedicated battling app with full cross-platform play is exactly what many of us have been asking for. If you’re a competitive trainer or just Pokémon-curious, this is the best time to jump in: the meta is fresh, the free Mega Raichu gift won’t last forever, and your Switch progress already transfers if you’ve been playing since April. Download it, claim your Raichu, and let’s see what Singapore’s ranked scene looks like by Season M-4.

Check out our Game News section for more Pokémon updates.

Game News, News

Pokémon Champions Hits Mobile Today — Battle on the Go From 10am SGT

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Singapore Pokémon fans, clear some storage space — Pokémon Champions is now free to download on iOS and Android, with a global simultaneous launch rolling out today at 10am SGT. The competitive battling game that arrived on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on 8 April is finally in your pocket.

🏆 Pokémon Champions is coming to mobile platforms June 17! — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

What is Pokémon Champions?

Pokémon Champions is The Pokémon Company’s dedicated competitive battle simulator — a free-to-start title built from the ground up for serious trainer-vs-trainer battles. Think of it as the official home of the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC) format, playable on your own terms. Since its Switch debut in April, the game has built a dedicated following despite a mixed initial reception, and the mobile launch is set to open it up to a much wider audience.

Gameplay is structured around complex, strategy-driven 6-on-6 battles. A rental system lets you build competitive teams without grinding a mainline game, and ongoing updates are steadily adding more Pokémon to the roster.

Pokémon Champions gameplay screenshot showing Dondozo and Aegislash vs Charizard and Hisuian Samurott
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Cross-Save and Cross-Play: Your Progress Moves With You

If you have been grinding on Switch or Switch 2, your progress is not left behind. Link your Nintendo Account and your save data transfers seamlessly to the mobile version — and cross-platform multiplayer means you can battle against Switch players from your phone and vice versa. One account, all platforms.

Free Raichu Launch Bonus — With Two Mega Evolutions

To mark the mobile launch, every player on any platform — Switch or mobile — can claim a Raichu, Raichunite X, and Raichunite Y from the in-game mailbox. The promotion runs from today (17 June) through 2 September 2026.

Both Mega forms bring distinct competitive value:

  • Mega Raichu X — gains the Electric Surge ability, setting Electric Terrain for five turns on entry. Grounded Pokémon see a 30% boost to Electric moves and are shielded from sleep.
  • Mega Raichu Y — gains No Guard, meaning all moves used by and against it land with 100% accuracy. Thunder and Thunder Wave become perfectly reliable in any weather.

New Regulation M-B Launches Simultaneously

The mobile release also brings in Regulation M-B, the first ruleset change since Pokémon Champions’ April launch. Both Switch and mobile players step into the new format at the same time, so the competitive field resets cleanly across all platforms.

How to Download in Singapore

Pokémon Champions is free to download and play, with optional in-game purchases for cosmetics and quality-of-life features. No upfront cost.

  • iOS: Search Pokémon Champions on the App Store (App ID 6741503079) or visit the official site for the direct link.
  • Android: Available on Google Play under the same name.

iOS 16.0 and above is required for mobile play.

Last Words

Singapore players now have a legitimate, official competitive Pokémon client in their pocket — for free. Whether you are a long-time VGC competitor or just someone who wants to settle who truly has the best team among friends, Pokémon Champions on mobile removes the Switch paywall from the equation entirely. The Raichu bonus is a solid reason to log in today even if you are already on Switch. Check out our other game news for more on what is landing in Singapore this week.

2026 Pokemon North America International Championships banner
News

Watch Pokémon NAIC 2026 Live Tonight — Free Blastoise in Pokémon Champions

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The 2026 Pokémon North America International Championships (NAIC) is live right now — and there is a very good reason for Singapore fans to tune in beyond the world-class competition: stream on Twitch tonight and you will walk away with a free Blastoise for your Pokémon Champions roster.

2026 Pokémon North America International Championships Preview Show — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

What is the Pokémon NAIC 2026?

The NAIC is the final International Championship of the 2026 Pokémon Championship Series, running June 12–14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Competitors are fighting for a share of over US$500,000 in prizes and, crucially, direct invitations to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco this August.

Four games take centre stage: the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC), the Trading Card Game (TCG), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. This weekend also marks a first: Pokémon Champions makes its inaugural appearance at an International Championship — the biggest competitive stage the new mobile game has seen yet, ahead of its global launch on June 17.

How to Watch from Singapore

The main broadcast streams on Twitch.tv/Pokemon and YouTube.com/@PlayPokemon, with a central hub at Pokemon.com/Broadcasts where you can hop between game streams, check the schedule, and find caster line-ups.

Broadcasts run approximately 7am–6pm PDT each day, which works out to roughly 10pm–9am SGT. Yes, that means late-night viewing — set an alarm, grab some snacks, and settle in for the big matches after dinner.

Get a Free Blastoise in Pokémon Champions

Blastoise Cherish Ball event drop for Pokemon Champions at NAIC 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Here is the deal: watch Twitch.tv/Pokemon for a cumulative 60 minutes over the three-day weekend and you will earn a Twitch Drop code for a battle-ready Blastoise in a Cherish Ball. Make sure Twitch Drops are enabled in your account settings before you start watching. Redeem the code by June 18, 4:59pm PDT (June 19, 7:59am SGT) — do not sleep on this one.

Watching a partnered co-streamer for 45 minutes earns you 12 Quick Coupons instead — items that shorten Pokémon recruitment wait times by one hour each, handy for building your team faster once the game launches.

How to activate Twitch Drops: log into Twitch, go to Settings → Connections, and make sure your Pokémon Champions account is linked before the stream starts.

More Drops Across Every Pokémon Game

Pokemon TCG Live Twitch Drops rewards at NAIC 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The Blastoise is the headline reward, but every major Pokémon title has drops running this weekend. Here is the full breakdown:

Pokémon TCG Live (Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG)

  • 30 minutes: Digital Chaos Rising Booster Packs
  • 45 minutes: Two Special Illustration Rares (SIRs)
  • 60 minutes: Mega Blastoise Avatar Cosmetics — jacket, coin, card sleeves, and deck box
  • 45 min on a partnered co-streamer: Two Ultra Rare Cards

Pokémon GO (Twitch.tv/PokemonGO)

  • 30 minutes: Timed Research featuring Seaking with Icy Wind and 20 Goldeen XL Candy
  • 45 minutes: NAIC Battle Bundle (Elite Charged TM, Rare Candy XL, 25 Fast TMs, 25 Charged TMs)
  • Claim deadline: June 26

Pokémon UNITE (Twitch.tv/PokemonUNITE)

  • Password revealed live during broadcast: 2026 NAIC Logo Sticker
  • 20 minutes: Platinum Blastoise Boost Emblem
  • Redeem by August 29

Important: each game has its own dedicated Twitch channel, and watch time is tracked per channel. Watching Twitch.tv/Pokemon counts toward Champions drops, not TCG Live drops — you will need to switch tabs intentionally if you want rewards across multiple games.

Last Words

Whether you are deep in the VGC meta, chasing championship-calibre cards for your TCG Live collection, or just want a head start building your Pokémon Champions team before launch day on June 17, there is something worth staying up for this weekend. The NAIC is the last shot for competitors to earn direct World Championship invites, and with Pokémon Champions joining the International stage for the first time, history is being made.

Set an alarm for 10pm SGT, drop into Twitch.tv/Pokemon, and clock your 60 minutes. That Blastoise is free for the taking. For more Pokémon events and gaming news, keep it locked to GameTrader.SG.