Pokémon UNITE to shut down worldwide in March 2027

The Pokémon Company and TiMi Studio Group announced the shutdown on 27 October 2026. The closure will end the game’s operation after its launch in July 2021.

Sales of Aeos gems, the game’s paid currency, and new UNITE Club subscriptions have been suspended. Outside China, players will be able to request monetary refunds for unused paid currency after the service ends. An offline Library feature will let players keep their in-game battle records.

Tencent will close Pokémon UNITE’s Chinese servers on 28 January 2027, nearly two months before the global shutdown. Players in China with remaining paid balances can claim gift packs for other Tencent games, including Honor of Kings, Call of Duty: Mobile and Candy Crush Saga, through a compensation programme.

The game’s competitive schedule will continue until the Pokémon UNITE Aeos Crown 2027. Regional online qualifiers in North America, EMEA, APAC and LATAM will begin on 5 December 2026. A 32-team final will take place in Tokyo on 20–21 March 2027, two days before the global service ends.

Pokémon UNITE launched in July 2021 as a joint project between The Pokémon Company and TiMi Studio Group, a Tencent subsidiary. The multiplayer online battle arena game has been available on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.

The official competitive circuit began in 2022. Its annual World Championship has offered a recurring $500,000 prize pool, alongside events such as the Aeos Cup and the UNITE Asia Champions League. Luminosity Gaming won the World Championship in 2022 and 2023. ZETA DIVISION, REJECT and Talon Esports have also competed internationally.

Pokémon UNITE was selected as an official medal event for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan. After the shutdown announcement, communities linked to Brawl Stars and League of Legends: Wild Rift began seeking Pokémon UNITE players, creators and professional competitors.

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