Pokémon’s first foray into the MOBA scene, Pokémon Unite, is set to release on Nintendo Switch next month with another release on iOS and Android devices sometime in September, the Pokémon Company announced on Thursday.
Pokémon Unite is a brand new genre that Pokémon has yet to dip their toes into. The game will feature battles with teams of five Pokémon per team. Players can mix and match different types of Pokémon to use in their battles so that they can find the right combination for them.
Every Pokémon starts at level 1 at the beginning of every match and can level up and evolve depending on how well they do in battle. The goal for either team is to score points in the baskets in order to get as many as possible. Pokémon that level up to the highest level before the match ends will have the opportunity to use a new move called, Unite Moves, which are devastating attacks that can make or break a match.
Of course, since this is a new Pokémon game, it has to take place on a brand new island/region. Below is a little lore from the Pokémon Company about the new location.
Pokémon UNITE takes place on Aeos Island, a mythical island said to be on the ocean’s unexplored frontier. On Aeos Island, players will find the Unite Battle Committee (UBC), which runs a series of Unite Battle tournaments. In Unite Battles, players form teams of five and compete against each other to see who can score the most points before time runs out. Players also experience a mysterious new form of energy known as Aeos energy. Aeos energy can be used in Unite Battles to evolve Pokémon.
The Pokemon Company
The game will be free-to-play and support microtransactions. There will be a battle pass players can buy in order to earn exclusive cosmetics for their Pokémon or players can simply buy outfits they want individually.
When the mobile versions launch later in the year, cross-platform play and cross-progression between Switch and iOS/Android versions will be available. Players will either need a Nintendo or a Pokémon Trainer Club account in order to make the cross-progression possible.
It will be interesting to see how Pokémon does in the MOBA space when Pokémon Unite launches on Switch sometime next month. For more about the game, click here for all of the information from the Pokémon Company.
