The free-to-play MOBA Pokémon Unite will shut down in March, over five years after its 2021 launch. Although a gradual suspension of services begins today, fans will enjoy one last hurrah thanks to a big in-game event running for the remainder of the game’s lifecycle.
Launched in July 2021 for Switch before migrating to iOS and Android later that year, Pokémon Unite was billed as a friendlier take on the MOBA genre popularized by Dota 2 and League of Legends, thanks to its short matches (10 minutes) and simplified mechanics. Despite its initial popularity, the game is winding down and will go offline for good on March 23, 2027.
An End of Service notice on the game’s website reads,
“We offer our sincerest gratitude to the many Trainers who have played since service started for the Nintendo Switch version on July 21, 2021. We would like to express our thanks to everyone by holding a special event until service ends. The Pokémon Unite Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo competitive tournament (an event for Pokémon Unite only) will also be held as previously announced. We hope you continue to enjoy Pokémon Unite until the final day of service. After service ends, the ‘Pokémon Unite Game Content Guidelines for Online Platforms’ will no longer be published or maintained, and we will no longer provide support regarding use of Pokémon Unite videos and images.”
As of today, in-game sales of Aeos gems and Unite Club memberships/renewals have been suspended. Existing Unite Club members will continue to use their benefits until the end of the membership period.
On November 12, an update will kick off the aforementioned final special event, where players can obtain items such as all Unite licenses and Holoware that have appeared in the game up to that point. A library feature will also be added, letting players view certain records and in-game content even after the game shuts down on March 23. Those who don’t download the library feature before the shutdown date will not be able to get it afterward.
Qualifiers for the Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo Competitive tournament will take place as planned on December 5. After the game shuts down on March 23, players won’t be able to log in to Pokémon Unite or play any battles. Only the library feature will remain accessible.
We enjoyed Pokémon Unite when it launched, with executive video editor Alex Van Aken scoring it an 8 out of 10 in his review, writing, “The game eats away the hours of my day as I reassuringly say to myself, ‘Just one more match.’ Battles play out with the spectacle that the Pokémon series is known for, and with so many abilities to choose from, no match feels the same as the last. The game’s simple mechanics and recognizable characters make for an approachable MOBA experience, and with a potential catalog of nearly 900 Pokémon to pick from, my hopes are high for the future of Pokémon Unite.”