The Pokémon Company has announced that service for the free-to-play MOBA Pokémon Unite will end on March 23, 2027. This announcement follows the game's removal from the competitive World Championship events starting in 2027. The game, which launched in 2021 for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, offered a more accessible take on the multiplayer online battle arena genre.
In-game purchases of Aeos gems will cease effective immediately, October 27, though players can spend existing gems until the service end date. New Unite Club memberships and auto-renewals are also being suspended, with ongoing memberships continuing until their expiration. The game's official site expresses gratitude to players and outlines plans for a special event leading up to the final day.
A competitive tournament, the Pokémon Unite Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo, will proceed as planned. Starting November 12, a five-month final event will commence, promising players the opportunity to obtain various Unite licenses and Holowear that have been released throughout the game's lifespan. On the same date, a Library feature will be added, allowing players to view certain records and in-game content after the service concludes.
Upon the end of service, battles will cease, and login functionality will be disabled. The Library will remain accessible on the device it was set up on, provided it was configured before March 23, 2027. This cessation of service highlights the transient nature of modern online games, where content can become inaccessible despite player investment.