Pokemon Champions won’t have IVs, developer explains why

In a new report first published by GamesRadar, Pokemon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino shared additional details about the upcoming title, set to launch on April 8 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

According to Hoshino, the game will move away from IVs (Individual Values) in an effort to make the competitive scene more accessible. This decision is closely tied to the fact that Pokemon Champions will serve as the official title for the Pokemon Video Game World Championships. As a free-to-play experience, the game is positioned to become the main competitive platform for the franchise moving forward—while also lowering the barrier of entry for new players.

One of the key ways the development team is approaching this is by removing IVs, a long-standing mechanic in the series. Traditionally, these hidden modifiers determine how a Pokemon’s stats grow as it levels up, often requiring extensive time investment from players aiming for optimal builds. Hoshino addressed the change during a press interview with GameSpot, revealing that the decision sparked “heated discussions” with Shigeki Morimoto, one of the original designers behind Pokemon’s battle system.

“From the very beginning, we didn’t want to go and change that core battle system,” Hoshino explained. “We thought that was very important, especially to the current players who enjoy the battle system. So we wanted to keep the same core battle system.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that not every player has fully engaged with the PvP side of the series. “With this product, our hope is to expand that accessibility, to make it something that anyone can jump in and enjoy,” he said.

He also pointed out that reaching a high level of competitive play has traditionally required significant time investment, particularly due to training systems that can be seen as a barrier for some players. In theory, Pokemon Champions aims to streamline that process, making competitive play more approachable than ever before.

In case you missed it, we previously reported on Masaki’s comments suggesting that expectations for the franchise’s future could extend “forever.” You can find more details here.