Is Pokémon Unite free-to-play?

Pokémon Unite releases on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices this year, and the game will be free-to-play for all players. A typical practice of the MOBA genre, Nintendo and developer TiMi Studio Group confirmed the game will have in-game transactions.

More specifically, Nintendo said Pokémon Unite would be "free-to-start," perhaps to further clarify that the game will contain microtransactions upon release. In-game purchases are confirmed for the game, but players will have the option to earn and claim rewards for free, simply by playing the game.

Pokémon Unite will offer a seasonal Battle Pass, and it appears there will be a free tier and a premium tier included. Players will have the option to upgrade their battle pass by spending Aeos gems, a paid in-game currency, to claim more rewards. The specific rewards are unknown at this time.

Related: When does Pokémon Unite release?

Players can also unlock new Pokémon with either free or paid options. Every Pokémon is tied to a Unite license, and the player must own the license to use the monster. Unite licenses can be purchased by spending Aeos coins, which are acquired simply by playing the game. Or, players can spend real-world money on Aeos gems to purchase Pokémon at their own will.

The in-game currencies in Pokémon Unite are as follows:

• Aeos gems (paid content)
• Aeos coins (earned by playing the game)
• Aeos tickets (earned by playing the game)

In Pokémon Unite, two teams of five players compete on a single map defeating wild Pokémon and opponents. Players earn points by collecting Aeos energy and then must deposit that energy in the opposing team's goal zones. The team that depsosits the most amount of Aeos energy earns the highest score, thus winning the match.

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