The free-to-play MOBA Pokémon Unite has reached the end of the road. A few months shy of its sixth anniversary, The Pokémon Company announced that the game will shut down on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices on 23 March 2027, just a month after it was featured as an esports event at this year’s Asian Games.
Leading up to the termination, Aeos gem sales, new sign-ups, and auto-renewals for the Unite Club membership have been suspended. Players can continue using their remaining Aeos gems until the end of service, and existing subscription benefits will remain valid for the remaining period, while the Pokémon Unite Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo competitive tournament is proceeding as planned from 20 to 21 March 2027.
“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,” reads the official notice. “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 the use of Pokémon Unite videos and images.”
Details of the farewell celebration, scheduled for 12 November, are listed in a separate post, starting with the Unite Coin Exchange. By obtaining Unite Coins via log-in bonuses and special missions, completed by winning ranked matches, players can exchange them for items such as Unite licenses, Holowear, Trainer fashion items, Unite snapshot items, and more. The Library feature, meanwhile, allows them to visit the Practice Area as well as view items and achievements obtained in-game even after the service ends.
Launched on the Switch in July 2021, Pokémon Unite features turn-based battles where players control Pokémon, who grow and evolve during matches, and compete to score more points than the opponent within a set time limit. It later expanded to smartphones, spawning a competitive scene that includes the most recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September, which saw a total of 58 participants from 10 countries.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
