The free‑to‑play multiplayer arena game Pokémon Unite will cease operations on March 23, 2027 at 00:00 UTC, which is 8 p.m. ET on March 22. The title debuted on the Nintendo Switch in July 2021 and arrived on mobile devices a few months later, offering cross‑platform play. In each match, players select a Pokémon that grows and learns new abilities as the game progresses, a formula that kept the game alive for almost six years.
In July, The Pokémon Company announced that Pokémon Unite would not be included in the 2027 Pokémon World Championships, opting instead for a stand‑alone tournament in Tokyo with qualifiers beginning in December. That decision hinted at the game’s impending closure.
Developed by Tencent’s TiMi Studios, the title relied on a typical freemium model that combined battle passes, cosmetic items and in‑game gems. Gem sales were halted today, along with the ability to start new Unite Club memberships or renew existing ones automatically. Gems already purchased will remain usable until the shutdown, and current Club members will retain their benefits until their membership expires.
A final update scheduled for November 12 will introduce a farewell event and a new Library feature that lets players view some of their in‑game items after the service ends. Users must log in before the shutdown to download the Library data; because the information is stored locally, it “generally cannot be transferred” to a new device, according to The Pokémon Company.