Pokemon Unite, a Co-op Strategy Game, Announced

Pokemon Unite, a "strategic team-based battle game" has been announced. It will come to Nintendo Switch and mobile devices (with cross-play), and will be released as a free-to-start game. No release date has been announced. Announced in today's Pokemon Presents broadcast, Pokemon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara announced the game, which closely resembles a MOBA, such as League of Legends or DOTA 2. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/24/pokemon-unite-official-trailer"] The 5v5 strategy game is developed in partnership with Tencent's TiMi Studios (Call of Duty: Mobile, Arena of Valor), and will see players battling to control areas of an RTS-like map, earning points and evolving their Pokemon mid-battle. Battling wild Pokemon will capture them, earning you points that you can then bank in scoring areas. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Battling will level up your Pokemon, letting you equip a number of new moves, which can be adapted for your playstyle. Levelling up enough will let your Pokemon evolve, and access Unite moves, which act like Ultimate abilities. Confirmed playable Pokemon in the game will include Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Machop, Snorlax, Haunter, Talonflame, Clefairy, Riolu (as well as all of their evolutions). [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/17/new-pokemon-snap-announced-ign-news"] It's been a big couple of weeks in the world of Pokemon - last week's Pokemon Presents revealed New Pokemon Snap, the free to start Pokemon Cafe Mix, toothbrushing app Pokemon Smile, and mega evolutions in Pokemon Go. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.