Pokémon World Championships closing ceremony reveals new TCG set, Champions update, and a movie
The Pokémon World Championships, the franchise’s biggest annual event, wrapped up on Sunday with a closing ceremony that delivered a slate of announcements spanning Pokémon Go, the Trading Card Game, the competitive battle simulator Pokémon Champions, and even a new animated movie. The event, which crowns champions across multiple Pokémon titles, also gave fans a first look at what to expect in the coming months.
Pokémon Go Kicking off the announcements after a musical performance and an introduction from Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, Pokémon Go is set to allow Mega Evolved Pokémon to participate in official competitive play. This change will take effect with the Go Fest Mega Finale event starting on September 5. Additionally, Armored Mewtwo will return to the game for the first time in six years, giving players another chance to catch the rare Pokémon.
Pokémon Trading Card Game The Trading Card Game is receiving a new set, currently referred to as TKTK, which will introduce cards for several Mega Evolutions that debuted in the game Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Specifically, the set will include the Z Mega Evolutions that were added in the Mega Dimension DLC. The Legendary Beasts will also be featured in the new expansion. A new card type called ex star was teased, though no further details were provided about its mechanics or release.
Pokémon Wild Card The Pokémon Company revealed a new animated movie titled Pokémon Wild Card, which appears to be more closely tied to the Trading Card Game than previous films. The teaser trailer featured the Pokémon Mimikyu. This marks the first animated movie in the series in seven years, and it is scheduled for release in 2027.
Pokémon Champions The competitive battle simulator Pokémon Champions received a new trailer showcasing additional Pokémon joining its roster. The trailer revealed Z Mega Evolutions for Absol and Lucario, as well as Mega Heatran. These new additions will be available in the game starting on September 9.
Pokémon World Championships 2027 The closing ceremony concluded with the confirmation that next year’s World Championships will be held in Singapore, running from August 13 to 15. This marks a shift in location for the annual event, which has previously been held in various cities around the world.
Notably absent from the ceremony was any new trailer or update for Winds and Waves, a project that was announced on Pokémon Day in February. The lack of news has surprised some fans, given that the game has not been shown since its initial reveal. With the Switch 2 RPGs expected to launch next year, speculation continues about when more information will be shared.
The announcements from the closing ceremony provide a clear roadmap for the Pokémon franchise over the coming months, with new content arriving for mobile, competitive, and collectible aspects of the series, alongside a return to the big screen in 2027.