{"id":1877407,"date":"2026-04-11T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1877407"},"modified":"2026-04-11T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T12:00:00","slug":"pokemon-champions-is-off-to-a-rough-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1877407","title":{"rendered":"Pok\u00e9mon Champions is off to a rough start"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"content\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_10nsm93y _10nsm931 _10nsm930 _10nsm932a\">\n<div class=\"_10nsm930 _10nsm93z\" data-concert=\"tablet_leaderboard\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_10nsm9310 _10nsm931 _10nsm930 _10nsm932c\">\n<div class=\"_10nsm930 _10nsm9311\" data-concert=\"desktop_leaderboard_variable\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<article>\n<div class=\"duet--article--lede duet--page-layout--standard-article\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--standard-lede _1o1f7ku0 _1ymtmqp3\">\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku1 _1o1f7ku2\">\n<div class=\"_1p1nf4x0\">\n<div 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-->Entertainment<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjQ1Mw==\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _4hoiss4 _1xwtict5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm8\">Report<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjQ1Mw==-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _6ytxv90\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Report<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _1f7jm891 _1f7jm890 fv263x2 _1f7jm89g\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\">See All <!-- -->Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<h1 class=\"_8enl991 _8enl990 _8enl996 _1xwticta _1xwtict9\">Pok\u00e9mon Champions is off to a rough start<\/h1>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _8enl99h _8enl99g _1xwticta _1xwtict1\">The new free-to-start battle sim could be great for competitive Pok\u00e9mon, but it\u2019s got some kinks to work out first.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku6\">\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku7\">\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku8\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">The new free-to-start battle sim could be great for competitive Pok\u00e9mon, but it\u2019s got some kinks to work out first.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku3 _1o1f7ku9\">\n<div class=\"_13g9mks1 _13g9mks0\">\n<div class=\"_13g9mks9\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _1xwticta _114qu8c0\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span 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src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/blurple_staff_1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Kallie Plagge<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">Senior Copy Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _1f7jm891 _1f7jm890 fv263x2 _1f7jm89g\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/kallie-plagge\">See All by <!-- -->Kallie Plagge<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp5 tvl9dp1 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1xwticta\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T15:00:00+00:00\">Apr 11, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_13g9mksn _13g9mksm _13g9mksw\">\n<div class=\"_13g9mksy _13g9mksx\"><span class=\"_13g9mks17\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons a8vjfv0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"a8vjfvo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"a8vjfv1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"a8vjfv1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" class=\"a8vjfv1\"><title>Gift<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"_13g9mks23 _1ymtmqpr _13g9mks17\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_13g9mks19\">\n<div class=\"_10nsm938 _10nsm930 _10nsm932b\">\n<div class=\"_10nsm930 _10nsm93f _10nsm939\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_mobile_and_tablet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_13g9mks1r _13g9mks1y\">\n<div class=\"_13g9mks1h\">\n<div class=\"_10nsm938 _10nsm930 _10nsm932c\">\n<div class=\"_10nsm930 _10nsm93d _10nsm939\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_headline_above_desktop\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku4\">\n<div class=\"_1ibjt4j0\">\n<div class=\"_1ibjt4j2 _1ibjt4j1 sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-image _1b9pgly0\">\n<div class=\"_1b9pgly1 _1b9pgly2\">\n<div class=\"_1ymtmqpn _1ymtmqpx\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IMG_3487\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3487.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ymtmqpm _1ymtmqpx\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IMG_3487\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3487.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption qama0i0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0ia\"><em>You first, dude.<\/em><\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0i5\">Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company, Nintendo<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body-container _1t5ltw90 _1ymtmqp3 _1ymtmqp14\">\n<div class=\"_1t5ltw91\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body _9f4de40\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--standard-lede-bottom\">\n<div class=\"_1o1f7ku5\">\n<div class=\"_1gmcxs21 _1gmcxs20\">\n<div class=\"_1n017go0 _1n017go1\">\n<div class=\"_1n017go3\"><a class=\"_1n017go6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/kallie-plagge\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kallie Plagge\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"_1n017go4\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/blurple_staff_1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=96\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1n017go5\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-standard_article_details-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6NjY1MTI2\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _114qu8c2 _114qu8c3 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Kallie Plagge<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6NjY1MTI2-standard_article_details\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _6ytxv90\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kallie Plagge\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/blurple_staff_1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Kallie Plagge<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _1f7jm891 _1f7jm890 fv263x2 _1f7jm89g\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/kallie-plagge\">See All by <!-- -->Kallie Plagge<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p> <span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1n017go7\">is <em>The Verge\u2019<\/em>s senior copy editor. She was previously senior copy editor at <em>Polygon<\/em> and reviews editor at <em>GameSpot<\/em>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\" class=\"_1ymtmqp11\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">Like many live-service games before it, <em>Pok\u00e9mon Champions<\/em>\u2019 launch has been messy. The free-to-start battle sim, which is out now on the Switch and Switch 2 (and also coming to mobile later this year), is <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Pokemon_Champs\/status\/2042319804430717245\">plagued with bugs<\/a>, some of which cause issues with basic battle mechanics \u2014 not great for a game that\u2019s <em>only<\/em> about battling. But bugs can be fixed, and encouragingly, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.pokemon-home.com\/ja\/page\/758.html\">some of them already have been<\/a>. <em>Champions<\/em>\u2019 bigger problem is that, in trying to be a competitive battling platform for all kinds of players, it risks satisfying none of them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">Coming hot on the heels of <em>Pokopia<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/885431\/pokemon-pokopia-review\">a creative and cozy spinoff with no battling whatsoever<\/a>, <em>Champions<\/em> is the complete opposite. There\u2019s no real single-player story; you just get some pok\u00e9mon, you make a team, and then you battle other players. Other than the satisfaction of ranking up, battling really just gets you in-game currency that you can use to get more pok\u00e9mon and items so you can keep battling. And if you\u2019re serious about battling, <em>Champions<\/em> will soon be the game used in official in-person tournaments, including this year\u2019s World Championships.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1o279nj3 _1o279nj0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"_199bv1dd\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">So, in other words, <em>Champions<\/em> is for the real battle sickos. I am one such sicko, and I\u2019ve been mostly enjoying <em>Champions<\/em> so far, bugs aside \u2014 battling at this level is a consistently fun and satisfying challenge, and those fundamentals haven\u2019t changed. But <em>Champions<\/em> also takes some big steps to make battling more approachable, and that\u2019s where the tension lies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">It\u2019s not that approachability is a bad thing. Competitive <em>Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> battling has sorely needed it. The official competitive circuit for the video games, known as VGC, has a notoriously high skill ceiling and, until recently, an even higher barrier to entry: A decade ago, it took hours of grinding to acquire and train a single pok\u00e9mon for a six-pok\u00e9mon VGC team. VGC has steadily grown in the last few years, thanks in part to a drip feed of quality-of-life tweaks that have made getting and training usable pok\u00e9mon a lot quicker and easier than it used to be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\"><em>Champions <\/em>streamlines this process even further, and I was able to whip up my first workable team in a matter of minutes, by far the most painless team-building experience I\u2019ve had in my decade-plus in VGC. Part of that is because <em>Champions<\/em> takes previously obfuscated information, like how many stat points you\u2019ve allocated when training a pok\u00e9mon, and lays it out clearly. That\u2019s a major improvement, and it benefits veterans as much as it does newcomers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1o279nj3 _1o279nj0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1ymtmqpj\">\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning ucljxw0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image kqz8fh0\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.777778\" id=\"dmcyOmltYWdlOjkxMDIxOQ==\"><a class=\"kqz8fh1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3484.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"1080\" data-pswp-width=\"1920\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The stat and move screen for a Kangaskhan in Pok\u00e9mon Champions. It lays out the points allocated in each stat, the move set, its ability, and its nature (called \u201cstat alignment\u201d) as well as how much in-game currency it\u2019ll cost to update all those fields.\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3484.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption qama0i0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0ia\"><em>Fully training a pok\u00e9mon\u2019s stats and changing its moves, ability, and nature (called \u201cstat alignment\u201d in <\/em>Champions<em>) takes about two minutes and a chunk of in-game currency.<\/em> <em>A few years ago, this would\u2019ve taken me hours to do.<\/em><\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0i5\">Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company, Nintendo<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">But it was only <em>that<\/em> easy for me to build a team because I already had all the pok\u00e9mon I needed to begin with. I have over 2,500 pok\u00e9mon stored in Pok\u00e9mon Home, the franchise\u2019s cloud storage app, and even more in <em>Scarlet<\/em> and <em>Legends: Z-A <\/em>that I haven\u2019t yet transferred. The shiny Sylveon I caught in <em>Scarlet<\/em> three years ago was fully trained and ready to go, and all I had to do was move it to Pok\u00e9mon Home and then send it to <em>Champions <\/em>from there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">If someone else wanted to copy how I trained my Sylveon, they\u2019d first need to get their own Sylveon in <em>Champions<\/em>. This part is not easy or streamlined. New players coming to <em>Champions<\/em> without years\u2019 worth of pok\u00e9mon stashed in Pok\u00e9mon Home have to rely on the game\u2019s gacha-style \u201crecruit\u201d feature, which presents you with a random lineup of pok\u00e9mon from a larger list and lets you pick one to either temporarily or permanently add to your collection. Recruiting more than once per day costs in-game currency, as does permanently recruiting a pok\u00e9mon. So on top of having to grind out battles to earn more currency, if you wanted to use Sylveon but didn\u2019t have one already, you\u2019d also have to rely on luck to get it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">That\u2019s not newcomer-friendly at all. <em>Champions<\/em> does attempt to make some concessions to avoid overwhelming new players, though \u2014 they just aren\u2019t necessarily helpful. The pool of held items at launch, for example, is missing a majority of the most important items in VGC, while also including items that have no practical use at all: There\u2019s no Throat Spray, an item I\u2019d usually run on Sylveon to increase its damage after using the move Hyper Voice, but the item shop does have the Oran Berry, a weak early-game healing item that no one would ever use when the superior Sitrus Berry is right there. This does nothing to help onboard new VGC players, who are now more likely to pick a worthless item that puts them at a disadvantage. And it\u2019s also frustrating for experienced players who start playing <em>Champions<\/em> with a team already in mind, only to realize that most of their favorite tools are absent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1o279nj3 _1o279nj0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\":Rtir6eqr96:\" class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-two-up _1ymtmqpj\">\n<div class=\"kqz8fh5\">\n<div class=\"kqz8fh8 kqz8fh7\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning ucljxw0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image kqz8fh0 _1ymtmqpx\"><a class=\"kqz8fh1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3481.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=19.975,2.6435289750824,80.025,94.84488649428\" data-pswp-height=\"1024.3247741382204\" data-pswp-width=\"1536.48\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3481.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=19.975%2C2.6435289750824%2C80.025%2C94.84488649428&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption qama0i0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0ia\"><em>An Oran Berry restores 10 HP to the holder during battle\u2026<\/em><\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0i5\">Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company, Nintendo<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kqz8fha kqz8fh9\">\n<div class>\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning ucljxw0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image kqz8fh0 _1ymtmqpx\"><a class=\"kqz8fh1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3480.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.29296875,3.358950617284,78.70703125,93.282098765432\" data-pswp-height=\"1007.4466666666666\" data-pswp-width=\"1511.1750000000002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/IMG_3480.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.29296875%2C3.358950617284%2C78.70703125%2C93.282098765432&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption qama0i0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0ia\"><em>\u2026while a Sitrus Berry restores a quarter of the holder\u2019s max HP. That\u2019s a lot higher than just 10 HP.<\/em><\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1xwtict2 qama0i5\">Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company, Nintendo<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1ymtmqpi _17nnmdy1 _17nnmdy0 _1xwtict1\">Making competitive <em>Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> more approachable is great for the health of the game and its growing community, but only if <em>Champions<\/em> can do so without alienating its core base of dedicated competitive players. Right now, the battle sim is caught between those players and brand-new ones, and it\u2019s lacking on both ends of the spectrum. But it\u2019s not doomed. It\u2019s a live-service game, after all, and it\u2019s clear that more items, pok\u00e9mon, and features are planned for the future. <em>Champions<\/em> has the bones of a game that can dramatically change the competitive scene for the better, but that all depends on how it manages to strike that balance going forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tly2fw0\"><span class=\"tly2fw2\"><strong>Follow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"tly2fw3\">\n<li id=\"follow-author-article_footer-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6NjY1MTI2\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _4hoiss4 _1xwtict5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm8\">Kallie Plagge<\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6NjY1MTI2-article_footer\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _6ytxv90\" 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class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup wh8b41o wh8b41m _1xwtict2\">More in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\">Gaming<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mq7s704\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1owd140\">\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _184mfto0 _1lkmsmo3\">\n<div class=\"_184mfto5 _184mfton _184mfto8 _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Demons and pinball are a perfect match\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Dotm-Screenshot-15.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=5%2C0%2C90%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_184mfto4\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/909820\/devils-on-the-moon-pinball-review-playdate\">Demons and pinball are a perfect match<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _184mfto0 _1lkmsmo3\">\n<div class=\"_184mfto5 _184mfton _184mfto8 _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The new show making fun of tech bros\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Installer-123.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_184mfto4\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/910422\/audacity-artemis-maul-installer\">The new show making fun of tech bros<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _184mfto0 _1lkmsmo3\">\n<div class=\"_184mfto5 _184mfton _184mfto8 _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/gettyimages-2265481258.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.0052061640982899%2C0%2C99.989587671803%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_184mfto4\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/910434\/now-the-faa-says-gamers-are-the-answer-to-its-air-traffic-controller-shortage\">Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _184mfto0 _1lkmsmo3\">\n<div class=\"_184mfto5 _184mfton _184mfto8 _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/STKB369_LUNA_A.webp?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_184mfto4\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/910025\/amazon-luna-third-party-games-subscriptions\">Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _184mfto0 _1lkmsmo3\">\n<div class=\"_184mfto5 _184mfton _184mfto8 _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Netflix\u2019s TV games get a big boost with Jackbox collection\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/ss_fcf663fd157d91452b068b271807f5d4ea635ee9.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_184mfto4\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/streaming\/909415\/netflix-games-jackbox-party-essentials\">Netflix\u2019s TV games get a big boost with Jackbox collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _184mfto0 _1lkmsmo3\">\n<div class=\"_184mfto5 _184mfton _184mfto8 _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Framework is teasing a lot of Linux for its April 21st event\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/257702_Framework_Laptop_13_AMD_2025_ADiBenedetto_0014.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_184mfto4\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/909401\/framework-next-gen-linux-teaser\">Framework is teasing a lot of Linux for its April 21st event<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1owd142\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr1 _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nrj _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nr7 _1ufh7nr6 _1ufh7nrc _1ufh7nrh _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Demons and pinball are a perfect match\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrf x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Dotm-Screenshot-15.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=20%2C0%2C60%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Demons and pinball are a perfect match\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrg x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Dotm-Screenshot-15.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=5%2C0%2C90%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r53 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/entertainment\/909820\/devils-on-the-moon-pinball-review-playdate\">Demons and pinball are a perfect match<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwjd _2xqpwj0\"><span><span class=\"_1lldluw2 _1xwtict5\"><span><span>Andrew Webster<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp2 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1ymtmqps\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T13:00:00+00:00\">Two hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr1 _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nr7 _1ufh7nr6 _1ufh7nrc _1ufh7nrh _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The new show making fun of tech bros\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrf x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Installer-123.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The new show making fun of tech bros\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrg x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Installer-123.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r53 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/910422\/audacity-artemis-maul-installer\">The new show making fun of tech bros<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwjd _2xqpwj0\"><span><span class=\"_1lldluw2 _1xwtict5\"><span><span>David Pierce<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp2 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1ymtmqps\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T12:00:00+00:00\">12:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr1 _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nr7 _1ufh7nr6 _1ufh7nrc _1ufh7nrh _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrf x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/gettyimages-2265481258.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.670137442732%2C0%2C66.659725114536%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrg x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/gettyimages-2265481258.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.0052061640982899%2C0%2C99.989587671803%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r53 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/games\/910434\/now-the-faa-says-gamers-are-the-answer-to-its-air-traffic-controller-shortage\">Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwjd _2xqpwj0\"><span><span class=\"_1lldluw2 _1xwtict5\"><span><span>Jay Peters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp2 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1ymtmqps\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-10T20:50:51+00:00\">Apr 10<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr1 _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nr7 _1ufh7nr6 _1ufh7nrc _1ufh7nrh _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrf x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/STKB369_LUNA_A.webp?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrg x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/STKB369_LUNA_A.webp?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r53 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/910025\/amazon-luna-third-party-games-subscriptions\">Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwjd _2xqpwj0\"><span><span class=\"_1lldluw2 _1xwtict5\"><span><span>Emma Roth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp2 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1ymtmqps\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-10T17:31:58+00:00\">Apr 10<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr1 _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nr7 _1ufh7nr6 _1ufh7nrc _1ufh7nrh _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Netflix\u2019s TV games get a big boost with Jackbox collection\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrf x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/ss_fcf663fd157d91452b068b271807f5d4ea635ee9.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.875%2C0%2C56.25%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Netflix\u2019s TV games get a big boost with Jackbox collection\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrg x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/ss_fcf663fd157d91452b068b271807f5d4ea635ee9.1920x1080.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r53 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/streaming\/909415\/netflix-games-jackbox-party-essentials\">Netflix\u2019s TV games get a big boost with Jackbox collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwjd _2xqpwj0\"><span><span class=\"_1lldluw2 _1xwtict5\"><span><span>Jay Peters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp2 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1ymtmqps\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-09T18:25:22+00:00\">Apr 9<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr1 _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nrk _1ufh7nrl _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nr7 _1ufh7nr6 _1ufh7nrc _1ufh7nrh _10f040q3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Framework is teasing a lot of Linux for its April 21st event\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrf x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/257702_Framework_Laptop_13_AMD_2025_ADiBenedetto_0014.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Framework is teasing a lot of Linux for its April 21st event\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ufh7nrg x271pn0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;)\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/257702_Framework_Laptop_13_AMD_2025_ADiBenedetto_0014.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r53 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/909401\/framework-next-gen-linux-teaser\">Framework is teasing a lot of Linux for its April 21st event<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwjd _2xqpwj0\"><span><span class=\"_1lldluw2 _1xwtict5\"><span><span>Stevie Bonifield<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp2 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5 _1ymtmqps\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-09T18:24:46+00:00\">Apr 9<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--ad--native-ad-linkset _8tvx5m4 _8tvx5m5 _8tvx5ma hidden\" data-native-ad-id=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden\">\n<div class=\"dynamic-native-ad-native_ad_linkset_link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_8tvx5m7\"><span data-native-ad-id=\"preamble\" class=\"_8tvx5m8 _8tvx5m9\">Advertiser Content From<\/span><\/p>\n<div><img data-native-ad-id=\"logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_8tvx5mg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_8tvx5mj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"n5bh2k6\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern mq7s702\">\n<div class=\"mq7s703\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header wh8b410\">\n<div class=\"wh8b41j wh8b41f\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup wh8b41o wh8b41m _1xwtict2\">Top Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mq7s704\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nrj _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwj4 _2xqpwj0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp7 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-10T13:01:55+00:00\">Apr 10<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/design\/909710\/artemis-ii-orion-capsule-interior-design\">Interior design at 25,000 mph<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwj4 _2xqpwj0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp7 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T14:00:00+00:00\">An hour ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/910008\/fawn-friends-ai-companion\">My baby deer plushie told me that Mitski\u2019s dad was a CIA operative<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwj4 _2xqpwj0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp7 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T13:00:00+00:00\">Two hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/policy\/910401\/iran-war-propaganda-blackout-lego-ai-slop\">How Iran out-shitposted the White House<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwj4 _2xqpwj0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp7 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T11:00:00+00:00\">11:00 AM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/909480\/solid-state-battery-donut-lab-ev-china\">Is the \u2018Holy Grail of batteries\u2019 finally ready to bless us with its presence?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwj4 _2xqpwj0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp7 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-10T17:30:00+00:00\">Apr 10<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/909948\/explosive-media-lego-iran-war-trump-netanyahu\">The Iranian Lego AI video creators credit their virality to \u2018heart\u2019<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ufh7nr0 _1lkmsmo3 _1ufh7nrk _1ufh7nrl _1ufh7nr5\">\n<div class=\"_1ufh7nri\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_2xqpwj4 _2xqpwj0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp tvl9dp7 tvl9dp0 _1xwtict5\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-10T14:00:00+00:00\">Apr 10<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1xwtict9 _1pm20r57 _1pm20r50\"><a class=\"_1lkmsmo0 _1lkmsmo4 _1lkmsmo5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/909736\/optimizer-whoop-oura-wearable-hype-cycle\">Why your Whoop might tell you to up your testosterone<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gaming Close Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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