In a couple of days, thanks to advance warning provided by a notification after loading the game, Pokémon Unite will be down for one of its regular extended maintenance periods that will last around half a day. By experience, it is usually accompanied by a "forced update" that requires the app to be directly updated from the store, at least on mobile devices. This latter procedure is not unique to Pokémon Unite, as a few other Pokémon games also utilize the procedure as those games continue their progression, which should be at least slightly fascinating to discuss.
Obviously, not all Pokémon games utilize the procedure. The procedure is pertinent for games that are continuously updated, such as Pokémon Unite above, and doesn't apply for games that are mostly inert. The main series games, for example, already have everything that is needed to play and are more or less inert, barring planned major content updates as with the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass and certain bug fix updates for the purpose of VGC, for one. Games like Pokémon Unite, therefore, utilize forced updates in order to make sure that everyone is "on the same page" when it comes to major changes, and certainly to minimize conflicts that may occur.
When it comes to forced updates, another Pokémon game stands out in particular, and that would be Pokémon Go. Unlike Pokémon Unite, there is no real advance warning (or few, if at all) that such an update will happen; at some point, those on an older version will open the game and be presented with a pop-up message that says "Update to continue..." and tapping on the OK button opens the store to demand that the latest version be downloaded and installed, thereby updating it. That is effectively the only certainty, aside from the certainty that the game will always be updated with new Pokémon and new events.
Even on the 3DS, Pokémon Shuffle can be said to have had its "forced" updates. I say "forced" because the only trigger for it is connecting to the Internet to check in or play a Competitive Stage; otherwise, the game runs fine, though one would miss out on a lot. Anyhow, either of those actions may throw the message that the system or the game needs to be updated, and if that happens, it's essentially a "forced" update, though not necessarily for the game itself and for other progresses in the game.
Going back to Pokémon Unite, at least there's a couple more days to enjoy the game in its current state before the extended maintenance period that not only prevents play for a good half of the day but also is likely to be followed by being required to update the game to a new version. This latter bit will certainly bring new things, but then that is the point of this game as well as other Pokémon games for which "forced updates" may be necessarily involved in some cases. It's just their way to get on and catch up with time, at which point time then provides more enjoyment... until the time it happens again.
One year ago: (Re-)Join for Good
Two years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Voyager Cup
Three years ago: Raising the Pokémon Go Level Cap
Four years ago: Working with Shuffle's Item Limits
Five years ago: In Pursuit of Collections
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