Nintendo Switch Pokémon Game Is Officially Becoming Unplayable Forever

A Pokémon game is officially being taken offline in 2027, at which point it will become completely unplayable on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and mobile devices. This may come as a surprise to some fans of the franchise, but those that are familiar with the details of this particular game probably won’t be all that shocked.

The free-to-play MOBA Pokémon Unite was first released in 2021, and proved a pretty modest hit for The Pokémon Company. However, it was announced in July that the game was officially being dropped from the World Championships. That led players to fear the worst, and now, sure enough, it’s been confirmed that the game will be ending its service on March 23, 2027.

“Thank you for playing Pokémon UNITE,” reads the official announcement. “We regret to inform you that service for Pokémon UNITE will end on Tuesday, March 23, 2027, at 00:00 UTC . . .We hope you continue to enjoy Pokémon UNITE until the final day of service.”

The Pokémon Company is also suspending sales of Aeos Gems (in-game currency) from today, although any remaining Gems you have can be used until the end of service. Unite Club membership purchases and automatic renewals have also been suspended.

Next month (November) will see a “special event and update” in which players will be able to get their hands on unique items. A new Library feature is also being added to the game so that players can look back over certain stats and content. The Library will remain accessible after the end of service, even though the game itself will become unplayable.

“Even after service ends, players who complete the required library data download before Tuesday, March 23, 2027, at 00:00 UTC will be able to use the library feature to view certain records and in-game content. Players who do not complete the required download before service ends will not be able to use the library feature afterward.

“After service ends on Tuesday, March 23, 2027, players will no longer be able to log in to the game or participate in battles,” The Pokémon Company clarified. “Players who completed the required library data download before service ends will still be able to access the library feature. Library data generally cannot be transferred when changing devices, and support for the library feature will not be available after service ends. Players may reach out to Support for any issues before Tuesday, March 23, 2027, at 00:00 UTC.”

Pokémon Unite is hardly the first live-service game to be shut down out of the blue, and it definitely won’t be the last. Even so, it’s never fun to see it happen, especially to a game that still has a dedicated player base. Not exactly the 30th anniversary celebration you might have hoped for. Hopefully the event in November will provide a fitting sendoff for dedicated players, but until then, just try and enjoy the game while you can.

Systems

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