Pokémon Unite

• Title — Pokémon Unite • Developer — TiMi Studio Group • Producer — Yuki Gabe • Series — Pokémon • Engine — Unity • Platforms — Android iOS Nintendo Switch • Released — * Nintendo Switch • 21 July 2021 • Android, iOS • Genre — Multiplayer online battle arena, real-time strategy • Modes — Multiplayer

• Illustration — Gameplay screenshot of a player-controlled Absol attacking wild Pokémon Pokémon Unite is a multiplayer online battle arena game in the manner of TiMi's previous title Honor of Kings, with standard matches consisting of two teams, each with 5 players. Each match is limited to 10 minutes in duration, and the team with the highest total score by the end of each match wins. If there is a tie, the team that reached the final score first (i.e. was previously leading in points) wins. A team can also win if the opposing team surrenders, which can only occur once the match reaches the halfway mark, and only if a supermajority of one team votes to surrender. There are limited time events with special rules, and a game mode called Quick Battle, 5 minute matches on smaller maps with 3-4 players per team and some changes to the rules. Each player starts a match controlling a relatively weak Pokémon. The Pokémon may become stronger and gain access to new "moves" by capturing wild Pokémon, helping defeat wild Pokémon that their teammate captures, scoring a goal (with the amount of Experience gained varying depending on the number of points scored) and knocking out enemy player Pokémon. The "type" system common in other Pokémon games, a system similar to rock paper scissors that determines each Pokémon's effectiveness against others, is absent from Pokémon Unite. However, the game includes a new mechanic to the series known as "Unite Moves", which are moves similar to Ultimate moves in other MOBAs, and are unique to each Pokémon and are unlocked at certain levels depending on the Pokémon. Currently, the game has over 79 playable Pokémon. Aside from the gameplay, Pokémon Unite differs from other MOBAs by lacking an in-game scoreboard, to discourage players from leaving the game out of frustration when they are losing in score; instead, the current score is implied through announcements at specific times of the match, specifically at 5 minutes to the end of the match, 3 minutes to the end of the match, two minutes before the end of the match and one minute before the end of the match. For instance, if the "We have a huge lead!" announcement is played, it means that one's own team is leading the score by 100 points or more, while if the "We're REALLY struggling!" announcement is played, it means that one's own team is trailing by 100 points or more.

TiMi Studios Group, a Chinese video game developer and subsidiary of Tencent Games, began a closed beta test for Pokémon Unite in January 2021. This test was limited to select players in China. In February 2021, The Pokémon Company announced that another closed beta test would be scheduled for March 2021, this time specifically for Canadian Android smartphone users. The reveal of Pokémon Unite was controversial, with outlets discussing the game's potential to open a new competitive gaming scene to a fresh audience. The YouTube video of the announcement quickly became the most disliked video on The Pokémon Company's YouTube channel. The Nintendo Switch version of the game, as well as the mobile versions for iOS and Android, were officially released on 21 July 2021 and 22 September 2021 respectively. TiMi Studios Group plans to continue development of the game after its official release, such as offering new playable Pokémon as downloadable content, the first of which became available for players on 28 July 2021.

In January 2022, it was officially confirmed by producer Masaaki Hoshino that the game would be part of the Pokémon World Championships taking place in August, joining the main series games (known as VGC), the TCG, Pokémon Go, and Pokkén Tournament 's last Championship Series season. In a statement on the game's official website, he also stated that a tournament mode is in development, wherein the playing field would be evened for all competitors, regardless of the grade of their items. The tournament mode was eventually released on 20 January 2022. In the same month, the game was used as part of the AKB48 Group Invitational tournament, which in turn formed part of the Pokémon Battle Festival Asia online event, hosted by ESL Asia. MNL48's Team Padayon won the event after they defeated BNK48's Yummy Remote 3-1 in the Grand Finals. For the first season of the Pokémon Unite Championship Series, there were 11 supported Regional Zones: North America, Mexico, Central America, South America-West, South America-East, Japan, South Korea, Europe, Oceania, India, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Players must be 16 or 18 to register, depending on their Regional Zone. In each month, in the lead up to the World Championships, a series of tournaments in each Regional Zone will be held. Like other games held in the World Championships, teams will be awarded championship points (CP), and the CP can be kept by players to allow team changes as the season progresses. The top 8 teams in CP from each Regional Zone before June qualify for a spot in the Regional Championships. The Regional Championships begin with a round-robin tournament, with teams split into four groups, before switching to a double-elimination tournament for the finals. The top performing teams in the finals qualify for the World Championships. North American team BLVKHVND won the first Unite Championship Series title in August 2022 in London, and in August 2023, the same North American team, now competing under Luminosity Gaming, won the second Unite Championship Series in Yokohama. Japanese team Fennel became the first non-North-American team to win the Unite Championship Series, doing so in August 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii by defeating South Korean team XoraTigersGaming 3-0.

The canonical record carries the following identifying particulars. The register further records that pokémon Unite is associated with People's Republic of China.