Pokémon’s First MOBA Is Officially Shutting Down After Nearly Six Years
Image by Charlotte Davis
Pokémon is preparing to shut down one of its biggest multiplayer games after nearly six years, bringing Pokémon UNITE’s global service to an end across Nintendo Switch and mobile.
“Pokémon UNITE” will eventually become unplayable for battles and online logins, although The Pokémon Company is developing a new Library mode that will allow players to preserve and revisit parts of their collections after the servers close.
Developed with Tencent Games’ TiMi Studio Group, Pokémon UNITE became the franchise’s first multiplayer online battle arena game when it launched for Nintendo Switch in July 2021, followed by iOS and Android that September.
The free-to-play game puts two teams of five against each other, with players controlling Pokémon, defeating wild opponents, leveling up and working together to score more points than the opposing team.
Its reach eventually grew beyond 200 million cumulative downloads worldwide, a milestone confirmed by the development team in July 2025 as Pokémon UNITE celebrated its fourth anniversary.
The shutdown announcement comes only months after Pokémon announced a new live-action production inspired by Pokémon UNITE as one of the projects celebrating the game’s fifth anniversary.
The Pokémon Company has not given a specific reason for ending the game’s service, but has outlined a series of events and updates intended to give existing players a final opportunity to unlock content and preserve parts of their history with the game.
A Grand Shop Sale has already begun with discounts of up to 80%, while selected Holowear, Trainer fashion, and other items from previous Battle Passes and limited events are also returning to the store.
A larger update will introduce a new Unite Coin Exchange alongside login bonuses and missions, allowing players to earn special coins through normal battles and exchange them for previously released Unite licenses, Holowear, fashion items, and other content.
The same update will add the new “Library” mode, which is designed to remain accessible even after Pokémon UNITE’s online service has ended.
Players will be able to revisit owned Unite licenses and Holowear, change their Trainer fashion, edit Trainer photos and view Battle Items, Held Items, medals, achievements and records from previous tournaments.
The practice area will also remain available through the Library, allowing players to continue viewing Pokémon movements and Holowear effects even though normal battles will no longer be playable.
Any Trainer who wants to retain access will need to complete the Library’s initial data download before the servers close, with items and records obtained afterward automatically synchronized until service ends.
The Pokémon Company warns that Library data generally cannot be transferred when changing devices, while support for the feature will also end once Pokémon UNITE itself shuts down.
Players with unused paid Gems will be eligible for refunds after service ends, although the existing game must remain installed until the required refund process has been completed.
Sales of new Gems and new UNITE Membership subscriptions have already ended, with automatic membership renewals also disabled, although existing subscribers can continue receiving their benefits until their current membership period expires.
Pokémon UNITE’s competitive scene will receive one final major event before the closure, with the previously announced “Pokémon UNITE Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo” proceeding as planned and its qualifying tournaments beginning in December.
The Grand Shop Sale is available now, while the special Unite Coin events and Library update will launch on November 12, 2026.
“Pokémon UNITE” will officially end service for Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android on March 23, 2027, at 12 AM UTC, after which players will no longer be able to log in or participate in battles.
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