At first glance, Pokémon Unite and Genshin Impact seem like vastly different titles with little in common, but there are several lessons that the new Pokémon MOBA can learn from miHoYo's RPG. Both titles are designated as live service games, which means that developers will actively update their game with new content to keep players around. Genshin Impact has adapted to this system well, regularly releasing new areas for players to explore, new enemies to fight, and new characters to play as. Genshin Impact's recent 2.0 update is the perfect example of how MiHoYo maintains its player base overtime. If Pokémon Unite is to succeed, it will need to adopt regular content updates into its development cycle.
There are many live service games that release content updates on a regular basis, but in order for Pokémon Unite to succeed as Genshin Impact has, those content updates need to matter. Players must be given goals to achieve, and receive rewards that reflect their efforts in-game. If a player base is given no reason to engage with the games, or with other players in the community, Pokémon Unite could be dead within a year. As a MOBA, Unite depends on the continued existence of a sizable player base to ensure the longevity of a game as a whole.
Like Genshin Impact, Pokémon Unite needs to adapt a regular release schedule for new characters to keep players engaged. There are currently only twenty-one playable Pokémon in the Pokémon Unite roster, with a few more appearing as mobs to defeat during matches. With almost 900 Pokémon total, Nintendo has a vast selection of characters to add into the game, with thousands of different attacks and abilities to choose from the mainline videogames. Unite seems to be doing a satisfactory job with this, as Gardevoir has already been added to the roster post-launch, and currently Blastoise is on the way. More characters will only attract more players, many of whom may be waiting for their favorite Pokémon to join the Pokémon Unite roster.
Pokémon Unite Needs To Diversify Maps And Attacks
Some of the larger updates in Genshin Impact include expansions into new areas for players to explore, which is a function Pokémon Unite desperately needs to mirror. There are currently only four maps in Pokémon Unite, each with their own set of Pokémon to defeat for points during the course of a match. While MOBAs aren't necessarily known for their map diversity, allowing players to play in new biomes with new Pokémon opponents will keep things fresh and interesting. Pokémon Unite currently has a Zapdos boss that allows players to score uninterrupted for a short period of time, while Genshin Impact has many bosses that offer unique combat experiences and rewards. New maps could introduce new bosses, with new buffs and rewards for players during combat. Introducing a Rayquaza that rewards a team-wide damage boost, or a Suicune that grants increased defense or immunity to stuns, could diversify Pokémon Unite strategies and gameplay greatly.
A feature that could translate loosely from Genshin Impact into Pokémon Unite is the function of weapons. While it's unlikely that players will see a Pikachu wielding a katana scurrying down the top lane, diversifying the available attacks in character builds could introduce a fundamental shift to the metagame. Avoiding overpowered characters and builds by frequently introducing new variables is a surefire way to prevent players from quitting out of frustration from overly popular builds. Regularly adding new attacks or combos alongside new characters and different maps prevents teams from defaulting to the same strategy over and over again, keeping Unite's gameplay fresh and fun.
Despite the many differences of Genshin Impact and Pokémon Unite, there are always lessons to be learned from other successful games in the industry. Though Pokémon Unite is still a young game, in order to ensure its continued success and growth, it needs to maintain meaningful content updates for the foreseeable future. The Pokémon franchise is full of upcoming releases with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokémon Shining Pearl, but hopefully Nintendo will continue to give Pokémon Unite ample attention.