Competitive Play
Ongoing coverage on Competitive Play.
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Pokemon Champions makes a poor first impression on fans, with 6v6 single battles, popular items, and hundreds of pocket pals missing: "Going from the perfection of Pokopia to this...whiplash"
Pokemon Champions has received a poor initial reception from fans due to its visuals, limited 30 FPS performance, restricted Pokemon roster, and lack of 6v6 single battles. The game, intended as a PvP battle hub and future VGC tournament platform, is missing popular items and over 800 Pokemon. Despite the rocky launch, its live service nature and developer commitment suggest potential for future updates and improvements.
'Genuinely Embarrassing' — Pokémon Go Fans in Uproar After Championship Player Disqualified for Allegedly Taking Off Headphones in 'Unsportsmanlike' Manner
The winner of the Pokémon Go Orlando Regional Championship was disqualified for allegedly taking off headphones in an unsportsmanlike manner during their celebration. This decision has caused significant backlash and embarrassment among the game's fanbase.
Pokemon Champions: The Beginner's Guide To Competitive Pokemon
Pokemon Champions is a new free-to-play title on Switch, iOS, and Android that will serve as the platform for competitive Pokemon events. This guide breaks down key mechanics for beginners, including optimizing Pokemon stats through EVs, natures, and held items, as well as understanding battle strategies like weather control, priority moves, and Trick Room.
Riot Games Announces First Riftbound Ban List for League of Legends TCG
Riot Games has announced the first ban list for its League of Legends trading card game, Riftbound, effective March 31, 2026. Several cards and battlefields, including Draven and Reaver's Row, have been restricted from the Standard Constructed format due to their impact on game balance and play patterns. The developers outlined their reasoning, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining core game rules and banning cards outright rather than restricting deck composition.
Marvel Rivals threatens bans for players with "superhuman APM" who are "achieving action beyond normal…
Developer NetEase has announced that Marvel Rivals will issue bans to players using cheats, specifically those employing mouse macros to achieve "superhuman APM" and gain an unfair advantage. The studio is cracking down on these actions to protect the game's competitive integrity.
Pokémon Champions Will Only Feature Fully Evolved Pokémon at Launch
The upcoming game Pokémon Champions will only feature fully evolved Pokémon at launch, excluding fan favorites like Porygon2 and Clefairy. This decision has divided the community, with some excited about focusing on maxed-out teams and others lamenting the exclusion of beloved earlier forms. Developers have indicated that non-fully evolved Pokémon could be added in future updates or DLC.
Pokemon Champions won’t have IVs, developer explains why
Pokemon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino explained that the upcoming Nintendo Switch title will remove IVs (Individual Values) to make the competitive scene more accessible. The game is scheduled to launch on April 8 for the Nintendo Switch and the unreleased Switch 2.
I made a competitively viable team in a matter of minutes in Pokemon Champions, and I'm confident this could open the door to high-level battles for newcomers galore
Pokemon Champions aims to lower the barrier to entry for competitive Pokemon battling with simplified mechanics and a free-to-play model. The game will support Pokemon Home integration and feature a gacha system for recruiting new Pokemon, with monetization details still to be fully revealed. Despite some concerns about its monetization, the game is expected to significantly impact the Video Game Championships scene.
Pokemon Champions Will Not Support All 1000+ Pokemon At Launch
Pokemon Champions will launch on April 8 for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, but will only feature fully evolved Pokemon at release, according to producer Masaaki Hoshino. This restriction will impact the competitive scene, as the game replaces Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as the featured title for the VGC. Earlier evolutions may be considered for future updates.
Pokemon Champions Is Something We've Needed For A Long Time
Pokemon Champions aims to be a free-to-play, live-service battle simulator that keeps traditional turn-based Pokemon battles available indefinitely. Development director Masaaki Hoshino stated the game simplifies competitive mechanics like EVs and IVs to lower the barrier to entry. Set to release on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, the game streamlines the process of obtaining and training Pokemon for competitive play.
Pokémon Champions Launches April 8 on Nintendo Switch
Pokémon Champions is set to launch on Nintendo Switch on April 8 and on mobile devices later this year. The game will feature cross-platform play and support for Pokémon HOME, allowing players to use Pokémon from previous titles and Pokémon GO. Enhanced visual performance is planned for the Nintendo Switch 2 via a free update, and several Mega-Evolved Pokémon will return.
Pokémon Champions Launches April 8 on Switch With Online Battles and Free-to-Start Model
Pokémon Champions, a free-to-start battle-focused game, will launch for Nintendo Switch on April 8, with an update for Switch 2 available at launch. The game centers around player-versus-player battles using familiar Pokémon mechanics, featuring various online modes like Ranked Battles and Casual Battles. While the base game is free, optional purchases include a Starter Pack, Premium Battle Pass, and Membership.
Marvel Rivals puts the wrong hero under the balance microscope, with some huge changes to Captain America's combat while only dealing out a painfully small nerf for Gambit
Marvel Rivals has received significant hero balance changes, with a major overhaul to Captain America's combat mechanics, including adjustments to his shield throws while sprinting. While Gambit also received a nerf to his ultimate ability duration, the article argues it is insufficient given his impact on the meta.
Marvel Rivals Season 7: Every Change You Need to Know
Marvel Rivals Season 7 introduces sweeping gameplay changes, including a significant reduction in ultimate energy gain across all heroes to slow down the pace of fights and reduce CC stacking. New hero White Fox is available now, with Black Cat coming in Season 7.5. The update also adds a new map, Lower Manhattan, and adjusts several hero abilities, with buffs for Black Panther and nerfs for Gambit's ultimate.
Marvel Rivals ranks, distribution, and competitive explained
This guide explains the ranking system in Marvel Rivals, detailing how competitive mode functions and outlining the ranked rewards available for Season 6.5. It covers all aspects of the game's competitive structure.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Announces Final Ranked Battle Season
The Pokémon Company has announced that Season 41, launching April 1, 2026, will be the final Ranked Battle season for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on the Nintendo Switch. Following this season, Ranked Battles will no longer receive updates until the game's servers are eventually taken offline. Season 40 is currently underway and will conclude on March 31, 2026.
Former Highguard level designer suggests "sweaty" competitive 3v3 play "was the biggest thing that turned a lot of players off"
A former level designer for Highguard suggests that the game's focus on intense 3v3 competitive play alienated many players. The game's complex rules and high skill requirement for team-based play created a steep barrier to entry. This comes amid reports that Tencent pulled funding from developer Wildlight shortly after the game's launch, leading to layoffs.
9 Best Games to Play With Friends Right Now: From Chaos to Cozy
This article lists nine games ideal for playing with friends, ranging from cooperative adventures like Split Fiction and PEAK to competitive experiences such as The Duskbloods and Battlefield 6. It highlights games that foster camaraderie, offer low barriers to entry, and utilize unique mechanics like voice commands in YAPYAP or shared world elements in Split Fiction.
