A representative of The Pokémon Company has responded to an insensitive remark made by Pokémon Unite developer TiMi Studio Group on Twitter. Pokémon Unite is a free-to-play MOBA available on Nintendo Switch and coming soon to mobile devices, and it's now courting controversy with the Pokémon brand itself.
The franchise's response to MOBAs similar to League of Legends, Pokémon Unite offers a unique experience compared to most entries in the franchise, as players must cooperate in order to defeat other human-controlled opponents in objective-based multiplayer battles. Twenty different Pokémon make up the game's growing playable roster, with series staples like Pikachu and Charizard being joined by newer Pokémon like Eldegoss and Zeraora. Despite receiving critical and user praise for its gameplay, a heavy emphasis on microtransactions quickly soured some players' opinions of the game. Players are able to pay real money for items that boost their in-game performance, and this system has created an economy that have prompted some to call Pokémon Unite pay-to-win.
As reported by Kotaku, The Pokémon Company has responded to an insensitive and unprofessional Twitter exchange which involved Pokémon Unite developer TiMi Studio Group. When asked by other users to "say gay rights" to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, the studio's account replied, "why? rights of heterosexual players are equally important." This resulted in a back-and-forth discussion with fans that was later deleted but preserved in the below screenshot. In a subsequent tweet, TiMi Studio Group apologized for the "inappropriate remarks," but this statement too came across as unprofessional.
While one Twitter user questioned the validity of the account, it has been determined to be the legitimate, verified TiMi Studio Group Twitter account. Following the series of tweets, Kotaku reached out to a representative of Pokémon owner The Pokémon Company for a response. The representative answered:
"At The Pokémon Company International, we believe in a just and equitable world and that every person, employee, and fan has the unique skills, powers, and purpose to contribute to this common cause. As part of this, we celebrate the humanity of every individual, and fully support the LGBTQIA+ community.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are the foundations of our culture of belonging, and our core value of Integrity and Respect underlines the importance of treating people with respect and empathy to build an open and trusting environment.
These statements do not align with our beliefs, culture, or values and are fundamentally wrong. We’re working with our external partner to address the situation."
Criticisms about Pokémon Unite's microtransactions have tainted the game's reputation among some players, and TiMi Studio Group's recent comments on Twitter are not doing the MOBA any favors. The developer's tweets were hateful and unacceptable, and its apology left much to be desired. For now, it's unknown what action The Pokémon Company may take as a result of this controversy.
Pokémon Unite is available on Nintendo Switch.
Source: TiMi Studio Group/Twitter (via Kotaku)