Free Mega Raichu? Pokemon Champions Drops on Mobile June 17

Two months after its Switch debut, Pokemon Champions is heading to phones. The Pokemon Company confirmed today that the free-to-play battle game launches on iOS and Android on June 17, with pre-registration open now. Cross-platform play between Switch and mobile will be supported from day one, and honestly, cross-play is baked in at launch rather than patched in six months later already puts this ahead of most mobile ports.

To mark the occasion, every player who logs in between June 17 and September 2 will receive a free Raichu, Raichunite X, and Raichunite Y via their in-game mailbox. Both Mega forms come with distinct abilities: Mega Raichu X has Electric Surge, while Mega Raichu Y runs No Guard. You don't need to play on mobile to claim the rewards either. Switch players who log in during that window get the same gift, which is a smart move to keep the existing playerbase engaged rather than punishing them for not switching platforms.

Pokemon Champions is still early in its life. The roster remains limited, six-versus-six battles weren't available at launch, and the game requires an always-online connection. Mega Evolutions arriving alongside the mobile version suggests The Pokemon Company is treating this as the real starting line rather than the Switch launch in April. The same free-to-play model carries over to mobile, with optional Battle Passes and resource packs but no paywall blocking core play. I'm curious whether a massive influx of mobile players will finally pressure the team to expand the roster faster, because right now the competitive pool feels thin for a game that's supposed to be the permanent home of Pokemon VGC.

Raichu and its Mega Stones will eventually be obtainable through the in-game shop or other features after the giveaway period ends on September 2.