In an unusual turn for the franchise, Pokémon will be releasing a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game this year in the form of Pokémon Unite. The game will become available across mobile devices and the Nintendo Switch between July and September. Given the genre’s heavy focus on team-based elements, many MOBA fans are likely wondering whether Pokémon Unite will support crossplay between Switch and mobile players.
Pokémon Unite was first announced in 2020 to mixed reception, especially from Pokémon fans awaiting main-series game news. Pokémon Unite also describes itself as free-to-start, meaning that, although the base game is free, premium currency and items will be available to purchase through its in-game shop. This includes a Battle Pass system, which allows players to unlock additional items during standard gameplay.
Some series fans were excited to see Pokémon's spin on the MOBA genre, though. Unite features some standard Pokémon mechanics, such as evolution and catching wild Pokémon, and the main objective of matches is repeatedly scoring points in the opponent’s goal, rather than destroying it as players would in games like League of Legends. Matches are also capped at 10 minutes, and players can contribute points through means other than reaching the enemy team’s base. Online cooperative and competitive play, however, remains the main focus of Pokémon Unite - including across platforms.
Pokémon Unite's Cross-Platform Features Explained
From its first reveal, Pokémon Unite has emphasized crossplay across mobile and Switch versions will be supported. That said, the Nintendo Switch version is slated for July 21, while mobile devices won't be receiving Pokémon Unite until September. This gap could give Switch players an advantage over mobile in both skill and in-game items earned over time. The official support page for Pokémon Unite reveals a cross-save system will also be available, so Pokémon Unite players will be able to access their save data regardless of which platform they're playing on.
As has been the case with other recent Pokémon spin-offs, players will need to log in with either a Nintendo Account or a Pokémon Trainer Club account to access Pokémon Unite cross saves from a new device; from there, existing save data associated with the account will be linked. Additionally, according to the support page, save data can’t be linked after a new save has already been created, so it must be linked when Pokémon Unite is first started on a new device. Fans looking to play Pokémon Unite across multiple platforms should keep this in mind ahead of the mobile version's September release.
Source: The Pokémon Company