In an interview with VGC, the director of Pokémon Champions shared some interesting insights into the game’s future, as it has become the franchise’s current competitive hub.

It was developed so that players who enjoy the franchise’s turn-based battles could continue to experience them in their original form, unlike main series titles (Arceus & Legends, Z-A Legends), which now feature real-time battles.

"Personally, I love Pokémon battles, and part of the reason why I joined The Pokémon Company is for Pokémon battles. I would love to keep turn-based battles around like forever, regardless of other Pokémon battle styles out there. From that standpoint, I believe that as long as Pokémon Champions is around, turn-based battles will be kind of preserved and will continue forever."

According to him, this installment serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it preserves an important part of the franchise’s legacy by retaining turn-based battles to keep longtime players engaged. On the other hand, it aims to attract new players with the game’s release on mobile, and to ensure they aren’t discouraged, which is why the number of Pokémon is limited.