The Pokémon series has used turn-based combat for over 30 years, becoming a hallmark of the franchise. However, recent comments from the development team have made veteran players nervous. Game Freak mentioned Pokémon combat system might “change bit by bit” in the future, meaning traditional turn-based combat is not guaranteed to stay forever. Recent Pokémon Legends: Z-A has already tried real-time combat, making players wonder if Pokémon is preparing to bid farewell to its familiar combat style.
But Do not Cry Yet!
Interestingly, Pokémon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino says he wants turn-based combat to “always” exist. Hoshino reveals he joined The Pokémon Company because he loves Pokémon battles, and says traditional turn-based combat will be preserved as long as Pokémon Champions is running. So if the main series goes real-time in the future, veteran players at least have somewhere to continue playing familiar Pokémon battles.
Pokémon Champions Just Got Way More Important
Pokémon Champions originally seemed like just a PvP-focused spinoff, but now its positioning has completely changed. Official competitive events, including the Pokémon World Championship, will use Pokémon Champions as the official competitive platform, making it actually important to the Pokémon competitive scene. Hoshino even says the team wants Pokémon Champions to operate long-term, maintained as long as the Pokémon series exists. This makes it not just “a spinoff for battles” but potentially the last stronghold of traditional turn-based combat.
Veteran Players Will not Be Left Behind
Currently there is no official word that Pokémon main series is fully canceling turn-based combat, so players do not need to hold a farewell ceremony for the 30-year battle system yet. The more reasonable interpretation is Game Freak is exploring different combat forms while Pokémon Champions maintains classic competitive gameplay. What the main series will become in the future remains unclear, but for now it seems Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have found a compromise: players who want new gameplay can play new ways, while those who want to keep pressing the familiar “Attack” button can go to Pokémon Champions.