Pokémon trainers from around the world battled it out over the weekend at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, and champions of the Trading Card Game and various video games were eventually crowned.The Pokémon Company treated fans to some fun announcements too, of course, including the release date for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, the return of an old school Pokémon TCG mechanic, and updates for several games.IGN has gathered every announcement up in one handy place for you, from the games to the cards and even the locations of the next two Pokémon World Championships.Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Arrives in OctoberLooking to put the pocket back in pocket monster, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket comes to iOS and Android on October 30, 2024.Pokémon TCG Pocket is a streamlined free-to-play version of the classic card game separate from Pokémon TCG Live. First announced back in February, it will feature “immersive” versions of cards with 3D digital art while allowing players to open two free booster packs per day. It will also include quick battles featuring simplified versions of the traditional rules.Registration for Pokémon TCG Pocket is already available ahead of its full release, while those in New Zealand can enjoy it much sooner thanks to a soft launch.Pokémon GO Getting ‘Big and Mysterious’ Feature SoonThe Pokémon Company and developer Niantic Labs have teased that beloved mobile game Pokémon GO is getting a “big and mysterious” update soon.Though this announcement of an announcement doesn’t tell us much, it does suggest The Pokémon Company is confident in the addition, which it said would be a “significant update” for the eight year old game.More concretely, it also announced Morpeko would be making its Pokémon GO debut alongside the battle-only form feature, which allows trainers to alter the form of certain pocket monsters by using a charged attack in battle.Old School Pokémon Card Mechanic Returning in 2025An old school Pokémon card mechanic straight out of sets such as Team Rocket and Gym Heroes is returning to the TCG in 2025.Players will once again find Trainer’s Pokémon in their packs such as Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, and N’s Zoroark ex. An illustration rare card even features N’s Reshiram.Those who played the TCG back in its infancy will remember cards like Blaine’s Moltres, Brock’s Rhydon, Erika’s Dragonair, and so on. The mechanic has appeared since as somewhat of a novelty, such as in a promotional card called Ash’s Pikachu, but will return proper in 2025.Pokémon World Championships 2025 Heading to CaliforniaNot willing to leave too much of the sun and sand behind in Hawaii, which hosted the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, The Pokémon Company has announced the event will take place in California over the next two years.The 2025 Pokémon World Championships will take place in Anaheim from August 15 to August 17, 2045, while the 2026 Pokémon World Championships take place in San Francisco from August 28 to August 30, 2026.The 2023 event took place in Yokohama, Japan; the 2022 event took place in London, England; and the 2021 event took place in Washington in the U.S. It’s taken place in both Anaheim and San Francisco once before, in 2017 and 2016 respective.Pokémon Unite Getting Psyduck and a New Battle ModePokémon Unite is adding three new pocket monsters to it roster soon, including Armarouge, Darkrai, and the absolute classic Psyduck. The Pokémon Company didn’t reveal a release date for these new additions.It did reveal a release window for 500-Point Battles, however. This is a new type of battle format coming to the game in spring 2025, in which players must take down wild Pokémon and opponents.Doing so earns then Aeos energy to score in the enemy’s goal zones, and the first team to 500 points wins.Correction: This article has been updated with an accurate description of Pokémon TCG Pocket.Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
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