Pokémon Unite Is Shutting Down: When It Ends, Why, and What Happens to Your Gems
Pokémon Unite shuts down on 23 March 2027. The exact time, what happens to your Aeos gems and items, the new library feature, and whether it could return.
Image: The Pokémon CompanyPokémon Unite, the free-to-play team battle game on Switch and mobile, is shutting down. The Pokémon Company announced on 26 October that service will end in March 2027, a little under six years after launch. Here's the timeline, what happens to everything you've bought and earned, and the one thing you need to do before the end.
When does Pokémon Unite shut down?
On Tuesday 23 March 2027 at 00:00 UTC. That's midnight in the UK, 1am in Paris and Madrid, and the evening of Monday 22 March in the Americas (8pm on the US East Coast, 5pm Pacific). It applies to both the Switch and mobile versions.
After that, you won't be able to log in or play battles.
Why is Pokémon Unite shutting down?
The Pokémon Company hasn't said. Its notice thanks players for their support since the Switch launch on 21 July 2021, but gives no reason for ending the game.
What happens before the end?
- 27 October 2026: Aeos gem sales stopped, along with new UNITE Club memberships and automatic renewals.
- 12 November 2026: the farewell update went live at 04:00 UTC, adding a special event and the library feature (below).
- 5 December 2026: qualifiers start for the Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo tournament, which goes ahead as planned.
- 23 March 2027: service ends.
You can keep playing normally until then, and Aeos gems you already have can be spent until the last day.
What's in the farewell event?
Since 12 November, a Unite Coin Exchange lets you trade special Unite coins for items that have appeared in the game before, including Unite licences, Holowear, Trainer fashion and Unite snapshot items. You earn the coins from a log-in bonus and from missions completed by winning ranked matches and other battle modes. In other words, it's a chance to collect Pokémon and outfits you missed, for free.
What happens to your Aeos gems? Is there a refund?
You can't buy gems any more, but you can spend the ones you have until 23 March.
On refunds, the picture depends on where you are. Japanese reports on the Japanese notice, from ASCII and Saiga NAK, say unused paid Aeos gems will be refunded after service ends through a form in the game, with details to follow on the official site, and warn players not to delete the game or app until the refund is done. The English notice on the Pokémon Unite website doesn't mention refunds. If you have paid gems left, the safest plan is to spend them or keep the game installed until the Pokémon Company says more.
UNITE Club members keep their benefits until the end of their current membership period, since renewals have stopped.
What is the Pokémon Unite library feature?
It's a way to keep your collection viewable after the game closes. It has been in the game since 12 November, you open it from the main menu, and it lets you:
- see the Pokémon you have licences for and switch their Holowear and licence art
- change Trainer outfits in the Closet and pose your Trainer and Pokémon for photos, with the menus hidden
- visit the Practice Area to see Holowear effects and moves
- look back at your Trainer and Pokémon achievements and the tournaments you played, up to the shutdown
- set favourite Pokémon, which then appear on the main menu in the Holowear you chose, and dress up Unite Snapshot photos with frames, stickers, backgrounds, expressions and poses
Battle items, held items and boost emblems will be viewable only, so the Pokémon Company suggests finishing any emblem merging and held item upgrades before 23 March.
The one thing to do before 23 March
To use the library after the shutdown, you must complete its data download before 00:00 UTC on 23 March. It happens automatically when you play normally after 12 November, or the first time you open the feature. If the shutdown arrives before you've downloaded it, you won't be able to use the library afterwards.
Two more warnings from the notice: library data generally can't be moved to a new device, and if you delete the game or its data after the shutdown, it may not be recoverable. There will be no support for the library once service ends.
Will Pokémon Unite come back?
Nothing suggests it. The notice talks only about the end of service and the library, and says its content guidelines for sharing Pokémon Unite videos and images will no longer be maintained once it closes. There's no word on a replacement.
FAQ
When does Pokémon Unite end?
On 23 March 2027 at 00:00 UTC, on Switch and mobile.
Can I still play Pokémon Unite?
Yes, normally, until 23 March 2027. The farewell event with free Unite coins runs until then.
Can I still buy Aeos gems?
No. Sales stopped on 27 October 2026, but you can spend the gems you have until the end.
Will I get a refund for unused Aeos gems?
Japanese reports on the Japanese notice say unused paid gems will be refunded after service ends through an in-game form, with details to come. The English notice doesn't mention refunds, so keep the game installed until the Pokémon Company says more.
What is the Pokémon Unite library?
A feature added on 12 November that keeps your Pokémon, Holowear, outfits, achievements and tournament history viewable after the shutdown, as long as you download its data before 23 March 2027.
Is the Aeos Crown 2027 Tokyo still happening?
Yes. Qualifiers start on 5 December 2026.
Gifting games on Switch instead? Nintendo will also let you gift digital Switch games to family members from 16 November.
