The 2025 Pokémon Presents provided a ton of new information about the future of Pokémon, with new games, new cards, and even new surprises. Every year, the Pokémon franchise hosts a Pokémon Presents celebration on Pokémon Day, the anniversary of the first Pokémon games' release in Japan. These serve to update players about the future of the Pokémon franchise, which has steadily grown over the past few years.

This year, the Pokémon Presents not only revealed a full trailer for the new Pokémon Legends: Z-A game, but it also provided updates for Pokémon Sleep and Pokémon TCG Pocket along with a new kind of Pokémon card. We also got a new look at Pokémon Champions, a new Pokémon game that could revolutionize Pokémon competitive play forever. This might be the biggest Pokémon Presents in recent history, with plenty of things to leave Pokémon fans salivating for the foreseeable future.

Legends: Z-A Release Window & Starters Confirmed

Chikorita, Tepig, & Totodile Will Appear As Starters In The Next Pokémon Game

The February 27 Pokémon Presents event confirmed some key information about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The new game will feature Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile as Starter Pokémon. No new Pokémon forms or new Pokémon were revealed, but the game seems to be a sequel to Pokémon X and Y, as it features AZ and Eternal Flower Floette as the owners of a hotel that trainers will be living in during the game. The game will be released in late 2025, although a more specific release date hasn't yet been provided.

We also got a first look at the battle style for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Unlike Pokémon Legends: Arceus, trainers can lead their Pokémon around their battlefield to dodge attacks and set up their own attacks. Each of a Pokémon's four moves seems to be tied to a timer, meaning that players can only use moves every few seconds during battle. Players will also be able to jump from building to building (likely with the help of some kind of Pokémon), adding a vertical component to the game.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A also revealed a trailer showing off the first confirmed Pokémon in the game. No new Pokémon were seen, but it's confirmed that numerous Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution will appear in the game. We also got a look at some of the new characters in the game, including a new look at the mysterious AZ, the ancient, immortal previous ruler of Kalos, and his partner Pokémon, Eternal Flower Floette.

Pokémon Champions Announced

New Pokémon Game Focuses On Traditional Battling, With Cross-Functionality With Pokémon Home

The Pokémon Company also announced Pokémon Champions, a brand-new game for mobile and Nintendo Switch devices. The game is focused on the turn-based "core series battling" function, with an emphasis on 2v2 Pokémon battles. Notably, players can bring in their Pokémon from Pokémon HOME into Pokémon Champions, so players can consistently use the same Pokémon from as far back as Gen 4 in the new game. The new game is being developed by Game Freak and Pokémon Works.

Pokémon Champions is significant for several reasons. It provides a permanent home to the VGC format and allows players to battle using multiple gimmicks. The game also serves as a direct competitor to the long-running Pokémon Showdown website, which has allowed for unofficial competitive battles on mobile devices for years. One nice perk of Pokémon Champions is that it provides a way for players to keep using all of their Pokémon, even when a specific game doesn't have a Pokémon included in its Pokédex. This is the spiritual successor to Pokémon Stadium players have waited years for.

Pokémon TCG Announcements

Mega Evolution Is Coming To Pokémon TCG

The Pokémon Trading Card Game announced that it will bring back Mega Evolution mechanics later in 2025. While previous Mega Evolved Pokémon used M Pokémon EX cards, the new mechanic functions with the current Pokémon ex mechanics in the game. Functionally, the TCG will replace Pokémon ex with Mega Pokémon ex, which players use in lieu of a normal Pokémon or Pokémon ex card. This potentially means that some Mega Evolved Pokémon could come into play on Turn 1, which wasn't something that Mega Evolved Pokémon could do in the past.

These Mega Pokémon ex cards are obviously stronger than normal Pokémon ex cards, but come at a cost - when they're knocked out, an opponent takes three prizes. This makes these Pokémon powerful but at an exceptionally high cost. It also appears that the Mega Evolutions era of the game will functionally replace the Pokémon Scarlet & Violet branding, similar to the BREAK era of Pokémon X & Y. This would mean we'd have multiple Mega Evolutions sets instead of just one.

Pokémon GO, Pokémon TCG Pocket Updates, & Other Mobile Games

Triumphant Light Comes To Pokémon TCG Pocket, While Urshifu Will Be Added to Pokémon GO

For Pokémon TCG Pocket, players can look forward to the release of Triumphant Spirit, a new "themed booster pack" coming out on Friday. That set will feature Arceus as a featured Pokémon along with several Pokémon that gain buffs when Arceus is in play. For instance, Raichu takes less damage when Arceus or Arceus ex is in play, while Crobat ex can deal 30 damage to one Pokémon of an opponent's once per turn. Additionally, Ranked Battles will be added to Pokémon TCG Pocket in late March.

Pokémon GO, meanwhile, announced the Might and Mastery Season, which will add Kubfu and Urshifu to the game. The game is preparing to celebrate Pokémon Day with a new Pokémon Go Tour: Unova, which also launches this weekend. More details about the new series and how players can obtain the Pokémon are expected later this week. No other major details were announced for Pokémon GO, which has traditionally followed its own news cycle.

Pokémon Sleep will introduce Darkrai and Cresselia in a future update via the Darkrai vs. Cresselia event. From the looks of the announcement, both Pokémon will be available to capture in the game, although specifics were not available at this time. Also, Pokémon Unite announced that Alolan Raichu and Alcremie will both be added to the game in the coming months, with Suicune added to the game today. Capping off the Pokémon Day announcements, Pokémon Masters EX has announced that it will be adding Primal Reversion versions of Groudon and Kyogre alongside Brendan and May in an update.

Source: The Official Pokémon YouTube channel/YouTube