Well... this post is a difficult one to make for obvious reasons, but it has to be written up in some way. Yesterday, it was announced that Pokémon Unite will end its service - not now or soon, but next year. The state of the game is thus as such that the inevitable has to happen, and it becomes a regrettable one. It's also important (and necessary) for me to cover the situation, given that I've played the game since the beginning and have a dedicated category on this blog for posts that pertain to it - including the "beginning of the end".
Here's how things break down (ahem). As of the announcement above, Aeos Gems - as well as Unite Club memberships - cannot be bought anymore. For the latter, renewals have also been stopped, but an ongoing membership will continue until it ends. The game will still remain playable for now, but the "fatal day" is set for March 23, 2027 at midnight UTC, at which point gameplay ends and login will no longer be possible. As such, there is still five months left to enjoy the game as much as possible before, well... it's not possible anymore.
The regular events of the game will understandably cease - some sooner than others - but starting in the middle of next month, there will be a special "finale" event that also includes a "library" feature update to allow viewing of accomplishments locally even after the service for the game ends. Then, there is the game's final tournament, called Aeos Crown 2027 - a kind of "WCS outside of WCS" - which will start its qualifiers in early December before progressing to further stages up to its finals, which will coincide with the game's end of service.
Now, as for how I feel about the situation, I feel that it becomes a "hollow victory" for certain other MOBA games, of which Unite is one. It also comes at the hands of the "mistreatment" of both the game and its players, forcing them to jump through "paywall" hoops in order to get the best of what the game has to offer, and themselves. Yet the world of MOBA games is apparently a dog-eat-dog one ("every Fidough for themselves"), so it could be in part not a surprise if one folds... although this particular example had a thing going for it.
Regardless, the announcement is a done deal, and now the game faces its final journey toward end of service. After several years of uniting with other players to accomplish many things in the game, it is quite disheartening and difficult to "disunite" with them as well as the game in general. Still, that final journey still takes some time to go through, and within that time there will be some developments - and perhaps a few insights for the game and Pokémon. With that, the "beginning of the end" for Pokémon Unite presents its last challenge for all.
One year ago: The Matter of Pokémon Devolution
Two years ago: PokéParkour
Three years ago: Moon Matters, Pokémon Matters
Four years ago: From Draft to Post: The Thought Process of Pokémon Blogging
Five years ago: Pokémon Unite Halloween Event
Six years ago: Being a Scanner or Diver with Pokémon
Seven years ago: On Tap for Go
Eight years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Repeat, 10/28/2018
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