The end of a Pokémon generation is slowly looming. After several years of competitions and regular updates, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are preparing to turn an important page in their history.
According to the latest information, the game’s ranked season system will disappear after season 41. This final season will begin on April 1, 2026 and will mark the last major competitive update for the ninth generation of Pokémon.
Season 41 of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will be the last
Since their release in November 2022 on Nintendo Switch, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have offered a competitive ranking system renewed every month. Players could participate in ranked seasons to earn rewards and improve their position on the leaderboards. This system had been in place since 2023 and was one of the pillars of the game’s competitive experience.
Season 41, scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026, will, however, be the last. Once this season begins, ranked updates will no longer be renewed. According to information relayed by Serebii, “monthly rankings and results-based rewards will no longer be available”. This means that players will be able to continue playing, but without new competitive seasons or monthly rewards.
The gradual end of generation 9 of Pokémon
This decision marks the gradual end of the ninth generation Pokémon. As with previous games in the series, Game Freak and The Pokémon Company are gradually removing certain features before the arrival of a new generation. The game’s servers are not expected to shut down immediately. Players will therefore be able to continue exploring the Paldea region or fighting online for some time to come. Season 41 will remain accessible until the servers permanently close, even if no specific date has yet been announced. For competitive players, this transition above all means the end of a cycle that lasted several years.
Pokémon Champions will take over for the competition
The competitive Pokémon scene is not disappearing, however. This year, The Pokémon Company plans to use Pokémon Champions as its new official platform for competitions. This application should serve as the basis for official championships and tournaments starting in 2026. With this change, competitive battles should gradually migrate to this new system, while Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will enter a classic end-of-life phase for a Pokémon game.
Generation 10 of Pokémon is expected in 2027
The transition to the next generation is already underway. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have confirmed that the tenth generation will arrive with a new game called Pokémon Wind and Waves. This new opus is expected for the year 2027. Recent games in the series have often been criticized for their stability and performance problems, particularly on Nintendo Switch. The arrival of a more stable version on Switch 2 gives hope that the next generation will be able to correct these difficulties. With Pokémon Wind and Waves, the franchise is preparing to open a new chapter after the gradual end of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.