The Pokémon Company, Tencent, and TiMi Studio Group have announced that Pokémon Unite will be ending service on March 23, 2027. After that day, players will no longer be able to log into the game or participate in battles, effectively killing the online live service game.
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 video and images.
The wind-down has already begun with the suspension of Aeos gems sales (gems previously purchased can still be used). Unite Club Memberships and renewals have also been suspended. Benefits will last until the end of the membership period.
November 12 will feature the final major update and event. During the event, players can obtain previously released items, Unite licenses, and Holowear using Unite Coins. By completing missions and login bonuses, players earn Unite Coins.
Why not just unlock everything at this point?
The only part of the game that will remain active is the library feature. By downloading the newly added library feature before March 23, players will still be able to access their match records and view in-game content. Support for the library will not be available after service ends.
It’s a huge bummer whenever successful live service games come to an end. The publishers have made no mention of unlocking or allowing any kind of permanent offline mode — which is rare, but not unheard of.
Pokémon Unite released in 2021 on Switch and mobile platforms as a free-to-play, simplified MOBA using one of gaming’s most popular IPs. Players competed in 5v5 matches to score points at specific control points, across several different maps and game modes.
The live service game gained a sizable following with its quick matches, and regular updates of new Pokémon. Heck, it was the game that motivated my family to purchase Switch Lites so we could play together!
Thanks to the Pokémon IP and more simplified gameplay, it made for the rare family-friendly competitive team game.
Pokémon Unite will end on March 23, 2027. The next mainline Pokémon game, Winds and Waves, will release on February 27, 2027.
