The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Unite will no longer be part of its World Championships series beginning in 2027. The decision follows five years of the MOBA's inclusion in the annual event. A standalone tournament for the game is planned in Japan instead.
The 2026 World Championships in San Francisco will mark the final appearance of Pokémon Unite in the main Championship Series. The game, which launched in 2021 for Switch and mobile devices, has maintained a dedicated following despite lower viewership compared to other titles.
Starting next year, the Pokémon Unite Championship Series will operate independently. Organizers will host an in-person event in Japan with paid travel for qualified teams, though further qualification details remain pending.
Joe Merrick of Serebii noted that lower enrollment and streaming numbers likely influenced the move. The 2027 Pokémon GO World Championships will also shift to a 3v3 team format while keeping individual qualification unchanged.