Pokemon Unite releases in July for Switch, coming to mobile in September

The Pokemon Company promised yesterday we'd get some Pokemon Unite news today, and it delivered.

Pokemon Unite will release for Switch in July and will arrive iOS and Android in September, The Pokemon Company and developer TiMi Studio Group announced today.

The real-time, team-based battle game with cross-play capabilities will be free to start and was announced back in June 2020.

Pokemon Unite takes place on Aeos Island, an island said to be on the ocean’s unexplored frontier. On it, you will find the Unite Battle Committee (UBC), which runs a series of 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 new form of energy known as Aeos energy which can be used in battles to evolve Pokemon.  You take on the role of a rookie Trainer who’s come to Aeos to take part in these battles.

Here's more on the game courtesy of the developers:

• The Rules of Unite Battles - Unite Battles are where Trainers and their partner Pokemon compete in 5-on-5 team battles. The key to victory in a Unite Battle is to have a higher score than the other team when time runs out. To earn points for your team, you must gather Aeos energy by defeating wild and opposing Pokemon and then deposit that energy in one of the opposing team’s goal zones. Unite Battles take place in various stadiums, and the rules for each stadium differ. There can be different numbers of team members, different match lengths, and even different Legendary Pokemon that appear.

• Face-Off against Skilled Teams - In Unite Battles, cooperating with teammates is important. When battling a skilled team or when at a disadvantage, you might be able to open a path to victory by coordinating with teammates. In ranked matches, you can earn performance points, which can increase—or decrease—your ranking depending on the results of the battle. When just starting out, you’ll battle at the Beginner Cup level and begin making your journey to Master Cup. Additionally, those who become ranked will be recorded on a global ranking board for all the world to see.

• Level Up - Before every Unite Battle, participating Pokemon are returned to Lv. 1 through the power of Aeos energy, and throughout each battle, they gain Exp. Points and level up. As Pokemon level up, they learn powerful moves and evolve, and when a Pokémon reaches higher levels, it also learns its Unite Move—a powerful move that can only be learned and used in Unite Battles. Unite Moves can change the tide of battle.

• Battle with a Fresh Look - In the game, you can change the appearance of your Pokemon and Trainer. Take part in Unite Battles while showing off your own unique style. You can use Holowear, a special technology that uses Aeos energy, to dress your Pokemon in a variety of outfits. You can also customize your Trainer’s appearance, clothing, and accessories to make sure your Trainer always looks their best, both in and out of battle. You can update your profile with a Unite snapshot that features your Trainer’s avatar and partner Pokemon, and you can even customize the snapshot by changing your Trainer’s expression or pose or by adding stickers. Before entering a match, you and other players can see each other’s Unite snapshot, too.

• Find Your Role - Many different Pokemon, such as Charizard, Pikachu, and Greninja will appear in the game. Although type strengths and weaknesses do not exist in Unite Battles, each Pokemon has its own unique stats and role—Attacker, Defender, Speedster, Supporter, or All-Rounder—that reflects its play style. You’ll want to practice with various Pokemon to find out which best suits you. To use a Pokemon in Unite Battles, you need to have a Unite license for that Pokemon. Unite licenses can be obtained through the Unite Battle Committee, where you can exchange Aeos coins (earnable via Unite Battles) for your desired license.

• Enjoy Even More Pokemon UNITE with the Battle Pass – You’ll have the opportunity to earn in-game rewards through the seasonal battle pass. To earn these rewards, you’ll need to level up the pass by completing missions. Additionally, players can upgrade their battle pass by using Aeos gems, enabling them to claim even more rewards.

• Obtain Items via Shops - The game has three types of in-game currency: Aeos gems (paid), Aeos coins, and Aeos tickets. Aeos coins and Aeos tickets can be acquired by playing the game. At the Unite Battle Committee, players can use Aeos coins or Aeos gems to obtain Unite licenses, which allow them to take Pokémon into Unite Battles. At Aeos Emporium, players can use Aeos coins or Aeos gems to obtain UBC-approved goods like Pokémon held items or Trainer fashion items (fashion items can also be obtained using Aeos tickets). Zirco Trading specializes in Holowear, which can be obtained using Aeos gems.

A Pokemon Unite closed beta test was held back in March for Android devices, and it is just one Pokemon game that’s currently in the works.

There’s the remake of DS titles Diamond and Pearl which will be released as Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl when it comes to Switch later this year. Nintendo is also working on the action-RPG Legends: Arceus which is slated to be released in January 2022.