After a week off, we return to a pile of Pokémon news… and unfortunately, not all of it is good. Pokémon Champions is finally here, but the launch has been rough. We’re talking missing features, weird limitations, technical issues, and whether this whole thing feels more like a beta test than an actual release. Is this a misstep, or is The Pokémon Company quietly trying to reset competitive play?From there, we shift gears to something a little lighter… and somehow just as disappointing. The new Pokémon pinball machine is out in the wild, and it’s not exactly lighting the world on fire. We break down what works, what doesn’t, and why it feels like a missed opportunity.We also hit on: Pokémon GO teaming up with MLB (and somehow also helping people get engaged)  A LEGO Pokémon contest that’s about to get very competitive  The ongoing chaos around Pokémon cards  And a surprisingly heated debate about Pokémon evolutions that spirals in the best way possible It’s a fun one, it gets a little unhinged, and yeah… we definitely go off the rails at the end.

This week on That Pokémon Podcast, we dive into Pokopia (again) and why it’s quickly becoming one of the most addictive and surprising Pokémon games in years. From massive builds to chaotic Pokémon personalities, we break down why this game hits so hard, but also - was this game undersold? We also talk Pokémon Champions, including major competitive changes and whether it even feels like a full game yet. Plus, TCG Pocket pulls, Gale of Darkness issues, upcoming events, and one big question: what the hell is Slowpoke?

This week, we’ve got a lot to talk about, but let’s be honest, this is basically the Pokopia episode.We’re gonna get into why this game has completely taken over our lives, the absolutely insane stuff people are building, and why it might quietly be one of the best Pokémon experiences we’ve had in years.But before we get there, we’ve also got a pretty wild story about Niantic and Pokémon GO data, some new TCG Pocket reveals, LEGO Pokémon leaks, and a few other things worth hitting. Oh and we almost forgot the Pokemon Fact Of The Week (BUT WE DIDN'T).

Pokopia has officially arrived and the fans are losing their mind. Christian shares early impressions after a few hours with the new cozy Pokémon game, Megan finally gets her hands on it, and Jim explains how he managed to destroy his Switch 2 before even playing. The crew dives into what makes Pokopia feel more like Animal Crossing than a traditional Pokémon game, the surprising event Pokémon system already rolling out, and why the game might attract players who normally ignore the main series.They also break down Pokémon Unite’s controversial gameplay changes, discuss new Pokémon LEGO leaks, celebrate the upcoming retro pixel-style Pikachu plush, and react to the chaos of trying to get tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum.Plus: this week’s Pokémon Fact of the Week leads to an unexpectedly disturbing discussion about Geodude anatomy. 

It’s Pokémon Day, and we’re breaking down everything from this year’s Pokémon Presents. From the surprisingly ambitious Pokéopia (yes, the Minecraft/Animal Crossing/Roblox energy is real) to the big reveal of Pokémon Winds & Waves, we’ve got thoughts. Lots of them.We dig into the new starters and why this might be the strongest trio in years, debate whether Champions can actually replace Unite, react to Gale of Darkness returning, and question why Slugma got that much screen time. Plus: is Winds & Waves the Breath of the Wild-style Pokémon game fans have wanted for years? And are we really waiting until 2027?!