Competitive Pokémon is on its way back in 2022 and this time Pokémon GO players will be able to join in at official events. Prize and Championship Point schedules will resemble that of the 2020 schedule, according to the announcement blog post by The Pokémon Company.
The 2020 Pokémon Video Game Championship events were cancelled in March of 2020 due to the pandemic. Players who earned points during the 2020 season will have those points transferred to the 2022 season. COVID-19 protocols, including social distancing and wearing masks at events, have been outlined online.
The #PlayPokemon 2022 Championship Series kicks off soon! @PokemonGoApp joins the #PokemonVG #PokemonTCG and #PokkenTournamentDX competitive circuits, with prizes and glory awaiting Trainers who battle their way to the top!
Read up on the details: https://t.co/KVSSgbNUIE pic.twitter.com/tfh4C9Ow7P
— Play Pokémon (@playpokemon) October 5, 2021
“Events are to restrict total participation to a maximum of 30 individuals — including players and spectators at any one time when indoors, or 60 individuals when outdoors,” the post reads.
The protocols do not state whether players or attendees must be vaccinated in order to attend. However, they do require attendees to follow local ordinances, which could include vaccination mandates in some locations.
Pokémon GO joins the fight
Pokémon GO will be a part of the official circuit for the first time since it launched in 2016. Access to early registration for competitive events will be reserved for players who place well in the GO Battle League, which is Pokémon GO’s official matchmaking system. Other details around registration for the GO events are as follows:
- You must be your home region’s age of digital consent or older to register
- You need to have linked your Pokémon GO account to a Trainer Club account
- The ability to create an account link will be available in late 2021
- Registration for the first events will open in January
- Tournaments for Pokémon GO will operate Senior and Masters age divisions and run the Great League format
“Qualifier events for the 2022 Pokémon GO World Championships will be held around the world at some Regional and International Championships,” the official announcement reads. “Players who place highly at these events can earn prize money as well as an invitation to compete at Worlds in London in Aug.”
More information will come as the first events draw closer toward the end of 2021.
