Pokémon Unite is ending service. The Pokémon Company announced on October 27 that the free-to-play MOBA will shut down on both Nintendo Switch and mobile on March 23, 2027, at 00:00 UTC. In US time zones that's the evening of March 22: 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.
After that, you can't log in and you can't play a match. The game launched on Switch in July 2021 and reached iOS and Android that September, so it'll be about five and a half years old when it goes.
What already stopped
The store closed first, as it usually does. As of October 27:
- Aeos Gems are no longer for sale. Gems you already own still work until shutdown.
- New Unite Club memberships and auto-renewals have stopped. If you're already subscribed, you keep the perks until your current membership runs out.
So the game is still running, but you can't spend any new money on it.
What's still coming
Two things before the lights go out:
- A farewell update on November 12, 2026. It adds a special event where you can earn Unite licenses and Holowear from across the game's history. Basically a clearance sale paid in grinding.
- The Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo tournament is still on, with qualifiers starting December 5. Shutdown lands just after it finishes.
Will I lose everything?
Mostly. The one exception is a new Library feature, also arriving November 12. According to the official details, it keeps working after shutdown and lets you:
- browse the Pokémon you hold Unite licenses for and swap their Holowear
- dress your trainer from your owned fashion items
- visit the Practice Area to watch moves and Holowear effects
- view held items, battle items and boost emblems (look only)
- review your achievements and tournament history
The catch is that you have to download the Library data before March 23. That happens when you play normally after November 12 or open the feature. Miss it and the Library won't work. Its data is stored on your device and "generally cannot be transferred" to a new one, and once service ends there's no support. If your phone dies in 2028, your Holowear goes with it.
The Pokémon Company also suggests finishing any emblem merging and held-item upgrades before the end date, since none of that can be done afterward.
Do I get my money back for unused gems?
Maybe. The Japanese end-of-service notice says unused paid Aeos Gems will be refunded after service ends, through a form inside the game. Free gems from bonuses or Unite Club don't count. The English notices we checked don't repeat the refund details yet, so check your region's notice before counting on it. Either way, don't delete the game if you're holding paid gems. You'll need it to file the claim.
Did anyone see this coming?
In hindsight, yes. In July, The Pokémon Company took Unite out of the 2027 Pokémon World Championships and gave it its own tournament in Tokyo instead. Competitive games tend not to get moved out of the main event when they have a long future ahead of them.
The short version
Pokémon Unite is playable until 00:00 UTC on March 23, 2027. Gems and memberships are no longer on sale. Play at least once after November 12 so the Library downloads, keep the game installed if you have paid gems, and expect to watch your collection on the same device you've got now.
Sources
- Pokémon Support — Pokémon UNITE End of Service Notice (Oct 27, 2026)
- Pokémon.com — Special Event and Library Feature Added to Pokémon UNITE
- Pokémon UNITE official Japanese site — サービス終了のお知らせ (Oct 27, 2026)
- Engadget (Oct 27, 2026)
- The Verge (Oct 27, 2026)
Published Oct 28, 2026. Based on The Pokémon Company's official end-of-service notice (Oct. 27, 2026), the Pokémon.com Library announcement and the Japanese Pokémon UNITE notice, with Engadget and The Verge reporting. Artwork © The Pokémon Company / TiMi Studio Group; official asset used editorially only.