Nintendo Game Will Officially Disappear Forever On March 23

One of the biggest Pokémonmobile titles will be shutting down for good in 2027, as The Pokémon Company has revealed that one of its games will no longer be playable from March 23.

The success of Pokémon on mobile devices has been spotty, as while there have been a few success stories, like Pokémon Go and TCG Pocket, there have been other titles that fizzled away. Now, Nintendo is officially saying goodbye to Pokémon Unite, with the game shutting down for good next year.

Pokémon Unite Is Shutting Down in 2027

In a move that has shocked fans worldwide, The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Unite will no longer be playable from March 23, 2027. This reveal was made on the Pokémon Unite website, letting fans know the timeline for the game's gradual closure, and what it means after the shutdown happens.

Pokémon Unite is a MOBA featuring Pokémon from throughout the franchise. In order to win, each player has to beat Wild Pokémon and enemy players, collecting a resource called Aeos Energy, which is then banked into goals that have to be defended. Pokémon Unite was a lot simpler than titles like Dota 2 and League of Legends, with a seemingly large starting audience. The fanbase must have dwindled over time, otherwise, Pokémon Unite wouldn't be going the way of Highguard.

NEW Hover to rip

Graded Pokémon Cards

Rip Mystery Packs of Graded Cards & Collectibles

Hover here to rip the pack open.

Latias & Latios GX Full Art

Team Up · PSA 9

Card value

$5,319

Gardevoir & Sylveon GX Full Art

Unbroken Bonds · PSA 10

Card value

$4,870

Mew ex Special Illustration Rare

Paldean Fates · PSA 10

Card value

$2,365

Mega Charizard X ex Special Illustration Rare

Phantasmal Flames · PSA 10

Card value

$1,960

Eevee & Snorlax GX Full Art

SM Black Star Promo · PSA 10

Card value

$2,382

Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare

Ascended Heroes · PSA 10

Card value

$2,258

Red's Pikachu

Japanese Pokémon Center 20th Anniversary Promo · PSA 10

Card value

$1,392

Pokémon Unite Will Only Have a Library Mode After March 23

As of Tuesday, October 27, players will no longer be able to purchase Aeos Gems, which are the premium currency of Pokémon Unite. No more members will be accepted for the UNITE Club battle pass, and automatic subscription renewals will be closed as of today. Unlike most shuttered games, Pokémon Unite is going out with a bang, as there will be one last great tournament held for the game, with the Aeos Crown Tournament being held in Tokyo to celebrate its existence.

After the Pokémon Unite servers shut down, the game will effectively cease to function. However, people who already owned the game can download a Library feature to see their records. These features cannot be transferred between devices, so even the Library is temporary.

Pokémon Unite is another example of the fleeting nature of digital games and why it's hard to become enthusiastic about new live service titles. People have spent money on Pokémon Unite since its 2021 launch, putting in a lot of time and effort into strategies for its gameplay, and it's all for naught, except for the good times along the way. Hopefully, this means The Pokémon Company will abandon its mobile endeavors, and focus on what it does best: single-player titles.

Pokemon Unite

MOBA Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 68/100 Critics Rec: 41% Released July 21, 2021 ESRB e Developer(s) TiMi Studios Publisher(s) The Pokemon Company Engine Unity Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play Mobile & Switch Franchise Pokemon

Join Trainers from around the world as they head for Aeos Island to compete in Unite Battles.

Genre(s) MOBA 0:00 / 0:00