2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for Pokémon fans! We’ve already seen several new games like Pokopia and Pokémon Champions released close together, with more titles coming to the Switch and the new Switch 2 console. While Pokémon Scarlet and Violet aren’t receiving new content after four years, the Pokémon franchise is still offering plenty to do. Recent highlights include the release of Mega Garchomp in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the potential arrival of Mew and Celebi from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen through special events, and the reveal of Pokémon Winds and Waves. Despite all the excitement, this surge of new content also signals a slowdown for the games in Generation 9.
With the announcement of Pokemon Winds and Waves releasing in 2027, the competitive Pokemon scene (VGC) will remain active throughout Generation 9 this year. However, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will likely become less prominent as more VGC events take place. This might seem odd, but it’s been becoming clear for a while now. Recent Pokemon games have generally been released every three years, and with Pokemon Champions arriving soon and Generation 10 planned for 2027, it suggests that Generation 9’s time in the spotlight is limited.
April 2026 is the End of an Era for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
The current season of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Season 41) will be the last, meaning no new content will be added to these games. With Season 41 starting April 1st and Pokemon Champions releasing on April 8th, it’s expected the competitive scene (VGC) will move to Pokemon Champions next. While this transition might not happen right away – Pokemon Champions will initially only feature Mega Evolution – it appears to be the natural progression for the series.
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Pokemon Champions focuses almost entirely on battling, with only a limited recruitment feature and less of the open-world exploration fans expect from the series. This suggests it’s designed to be the premier competitive VGC battling experience. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were notable for consistently updating competitive rules and formats, offering more ongoing support for competitive players than previous games.
Even though Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have some issues, players who enjoy competitive Pokemon will still find value in the game. You can fully train Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet, move them to Pokemon Home, and then transfer them to the Champions game. While it takes some effort, this is a reliable way to avoid spending a lot of in-game currency in Champions.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s eighth season uses rules and available Pokemon similar to those in Generation 9. Plus, the upcoming Pokemon Champions tournament might allow players to use almost any Pokemon and all the special battle features. This could make for the most competitive Pokemon experience ever. However, with Season 41 on the horizon and no further updates planned for Scarlet and Violet, it feels like this will be the last major competitive season for those games.
The End of Gen 9 Pokemon Games May Be a Slow-Burn
The 2026 World Championships will continue to use Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which is good news for players who have become skilled with the game’s rules and Pokémon. However, starting April 1st, official support for Gen 9 will end – meaning there will be no more rankings or prizes awarded for playing it.
We’ve been releasing updates monthly, and it’s been 41 months since Seasons began. Once April 1st passes, we expect fewer players to participate in ranked battles, as the usual surge at the start of a new season will likely disappear. Because of this, players should be aware that support for online battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet may eventually end, and the same could happen with Tera Raid events in the future.
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2026-03-29 21:34