Pokémon Is Retiring One of Its Most Overlooked Titles Amidst Major Rivalry

The Pokémon World Championship is gearing up to take place in San Francisco next month, bringing together the top players from the video games and trading card game communities to compete for an impressive trophy and global recognition. However, there’s a significant change on the horizon for the 2026 event, as one competitive community will be stepping back. The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Unite will be removed from the Championship Series lineup for the upcoming season.

Launched in 2021, this Switch and mobile MOBA didn’t quite reach the popularity of other spin-offs like Pokémon Go or the trading card game, but it has enjoyed consistent updates and maintains a loyal player base. I recently revisited the game and was reminded of the countless hours I spent with friends when it first came out. Its straightforward, low-pressure MOBA gameplay made it accessible, especially compared to giants like Dota 2 and League of Legends, and it allowed us to play as our favorite Pokémon.

Starting in 2027, Pokémon Unite will no longer be part of the World Championships. While it will still have its own competitive scene, it won’t be included in the Championship Series:

The Pokémon Unite Championship Series will not be part of the Championship Series in the 2027 season.

Instead, a standalone in-person Pokémon Unite event is planned for Japan, with travel expenses covered for qualified teams. More details regarding qualifications and travel support will be shared later on the official Pokémon UNITE site.

Play! Pokémon expresses gratitude to all the dedicated teams, competitors, and organizations within the Pokémon Unite community for their enthusiasm and commitment to competitive play worldwide.

Joe Merrick, the webmaster of a well-known Pokémon fansite, speculates that low enrollment and streaming viewership may have influenced the decision to drop the game. For context, the VOD of last year’s Unite stream garnered around 135,772 views, which is significantly lower than the equivalent streams for Scarlet and Violet finals that year.

Unite isn’t the only title undergoing changes next year, as Pokémon Go will also see a shift to a 3v3 team format.

The 2027 Pokémon Go World Championships will introduce 3-on-3 team play, with teams formed from a pool of qualified players.

The qualification process for individual players remains unchanged, with direct invitations based on event performance and Championship Points earned throughout the 2027 season.

Further information about the 2027 Pokémon Go World Championships will be announced later.

This year’s World Championships in San Francisco will be the first to feature Pokémon Champions as the main competitive game, though it’s still uncertain if the 2027 event will include Pokémon Winds and Waves in its tournament lineup. The Generation X games are expected to launch on Switch 2 next year, but specific details are still under wraps, leaving us in the dark about their availability for the competition.