Pokemon Champions has a new technical problem that's as weird as it is annoying. On Switch 2, the game defaults to 1080p output in TV mode instead of 4K, and the only way to fix it is to physically undock and re-dock the console while the game is running.
What the bug actually does
The issue surfaced on April 8 when prominent Pokemon fan account Centro Leaks called it out: launch Pokemon Champions with the Switch 2 already docked, and the resolution gets locked at half of what it should be. Undocking and re-docking the console while the game is active forces it back to 4K. Joe Merrick, who runs fan site Serebii, verified the glitch in a separate post on X.
This isn't a small visual quirk. Pokemon Champions got a free Switch 2 update built specifically to use the new hardware properly. Nintendo's own site says the upgrade optimizes the game for the Switch 2's screen and for high-resolution TVs. Getting stuck at 1080p when the console is docked defeats the entire point of that update.
The Unity connection and who built this game
Merrick's post suggests the Unity game engine might be involved, though nothing has been confirmed officially. Pokemon Champions was built by The Pokemon Works, a joint venture between ILCA and The Pokemon Company. ILCA also developed Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl for the original Switch, using Unity there too.
Whether this is a Unity quirk with how Switch 2 handles the transition between docked and handheld modes, or something specific to how the game was coded, remains unclear. The Pokemon Company hasn't put out any statement addressing the resolution bug.
A launch that keeps adding to the list
This resolution bug is the latest in a series of launch problems for Pokemon Champions. The Pokemon Company recently patched a separate issue that was trapping Pokemon inside Pokemon Home, locking players out of their own collections. Developers have also acknowledged bugs related to incorrect gender labels during the tutorial and glitches tied to Mega Evolution.
The game is only available on Switch platforms right now, with a mobile release scheduled for later this year. That mobile version is going to need a much smoother launch than what Switch players have dealt with so far.
What players are dealing with right now
For anyone playing on Switch 2 in TV mode, this is a mess. The console was marketed heavily on its 4K output, and a flagship Pokemon game shipping with a bug that cuts that output in half is a bad look, especially when the fix requires physically messing with the hardware mid-game.
The good news is that The Pokemon Company has been quick to address other launch bugs, pushing fixes relatively fast after they were reported. Given how visible this resolution issue has become, a patch should be coming soon. Keep an eye on the official Pokemon Champions channels for updates, and check latest gaming news for coverage as patches drop.
For players wanting more help navigating Pokemon Champions while the bugs get sorted, browse more guides for tips on getting the most out of the game in its current state. Make sure to check out more:
