Pokémon Goes Mobile: Conquer the Competition, But the Switch is Still Key for Champion Status

Participating in Pokémon battles can begin with just a mobile phone. However, to enter prestigious competitions like the Pokémon World Championships, a Nintendo Switch is necessary, and the reason for this distinction remains unclear.

The battle simulator titled Pokémon Champions was initially released on the Switch and Switch 2 in April, with a mobile version following in June. With cross-platform compatibility, the gameplay is virtually the same across devices; therefore, the decision rests on whether players prefer a touchscreen or a controller. Personally, I often opt for the mobile version since it’s conveniently portable and I have unlimited data access.

Despite its availability, the mobile version of Champions was prohibited at this year’s World Championships. Starting September 1st, some local tournaments will permit mobile participation, but regional tournaments and higher will still mandate the use of Switch hardware.

In a roundtable discussion at the World Championships last week—prior to the September rules update—Pokémon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino explained the rationale for the mobile version’s exclusion from top-tier play. He stated, “We are currently using the Switch to showcase better graphics on the Switch 2,” indicating that the diversity of mobile devices complicates competition if players were allowed to use their own.

This reasoning was less meaningful before the rules were revised. Events at the regional level and above are broadcast on official platforms, and the VGC, the competitive circuit for the game, garnered the highest viewership compared to other titles at this year’s event, according to data from Esports Charts. It appears The Pokémon Company considers mobile suitable for smaller events but not prestigious enough for major VGC competitions, especially given the high production values and attendance observed at the finals held at the Chase Center in San Francisco this year, a notable venue change from past hotel-based events.

Indeed, Champions looks more appealing on the Switch 2 than on my iPhone 14 Pro, which aligns with the desire to present the game in the best possible light at high-stakes events. Competitors must provide their own devices for tournaments; however, the official VGC governance documents mention scenarios where provided hardware may be used during live matches. Players can generate a “team ID” for their tournament team, allowing anyone to replicate that team on their account for match verification. Additionally, the rules specify that “Team IDs may be utilized for recordkeeping or team checks and during streamed matches on hardware provided by the Tournament Organizer.” For those worried about visual quality, there’s already a functional solution available.

But is there a legitimate technical reason to prevent mobile devices from participating at all competitive levels? Hoshino responded, “Since Champions is available on both mobile and Switch, the challenge of cross-platform play is complex. The battle calculations are processed server-side, which enables this cross-play capability but also added complexity to the game’s development.”

In short, it doesn’t seem that there’s a valid reason. The complexity of enabling seamless cross-platform play might explain the difference in release timing for the console and mobile versions, yet both versions are available now—barring minor server maintenance issues.

Mobile platforms have proven successful in other competitive Pokémon titles. For example, Pokémon Unite’s mobile version is accepted in high-level competition, with only one player choosing to compete on mobile in this year’s finals instead of using a Switch. Pokémon Go exists solely on mobile, and its competitive matches are also streamed similar to VGC events. While these may not be the strongest cases for mobile inclusion—particularly since this was Unite’s final year in the World Championships and the viewing experience for Pokémon Go has numerous downsides—it remains clear that mobile formats can be effectively integrated.

According to Hoshino, Pokémon Champions combined has achieved around 25 million downloads across both Switch 2 and mobile platforms. This figure surpasses the total install base of the Switch 2 as of June, suggesting that millions of those downloads stemmed from mobile users. It’s uncertain how many of these players engage exclusively on mobile, but with the recent increase in Switch 2 prices and the overall rise of tech costs, many Champions competitors may only have smartphones, lacking a budget for a Switch.

The process of team building and preparing for tournaments is identical whether playing Champions on mobile or a Switch. With the exception of Eternal Flower Floette, only available through Pokémon Legends: Z-A, players can obtain all required Pokémon within Champions using the game’s gacha-style “recruit” feature. If players own previous Switch Pokémon games, transferring caught Pokémon into Champions through the Pokémon Home cloud storage service can expedite the process, but it’s feasible to obtain needed Pokémon without spending money. Training these Pokémon has also been streamlined; tasks that once took hours can now be completed quickly.

Therefore, mobile-only players—or those who primarily engage with Champions—are not at a significant disadvantage during team preparation. However, Eternal Floette was a component of the winning team this year, and it has faced scrutiny for its perceived “pay-to-win” aspect. Consequently, if players lack access to a Switch, they can begin their journey on mobile and still have an opportunity to qualify for the World Championships, yet find themselves without the necessary hardware for advancement.

Excluding these players from high-level competitions seems counterproductive, especially given that Pokémon Champions aims to be “inclusive and accessible to all players.” This goal is reinforced by the game’s user-friendly design, providing straightforward access to previously complicated information. The increasing viewership of this year’s World Championships, alongside the thousands present at the arena, suggests that the VGC is gaining traction. When I attended the Pokémon World Championships back in 2016, it was a niche event, but now it has gained significant mainstream attention.

As a long-time player and watcher of VGC, I have found it to be a richly rewarding game with an enthusiastic and welcoming community. It is exciting to see it become more popular and accessible, highlighting the importance of maintaining inclusiveness in tournaments.