March 2025
Deconstruction of Pokémon UNITE
Pokémon UNITE's Identity Crisis: a Half-Evolved MOBA?

Pokémon UNITE does not have an acquisition problem; it has a retention problem. Despite strong IP, stable downloads, and a large mobile MOBA market, the game has struggled to turn interest into lasting engagement, with 2.6% day-30 retention and revenue down more than 50% since launch.
The core issue is product-market fit. Pokémon UNITE is accessible enough to attract casual players, but too shallow, too friction-heavy, and too constrained by fairness concerns to retain the mid-core players who typically sustain the MOBA genre.
Four Strategic Priorities
- Deepen gameplay through features like elemental type advantages to add meaningful strategic depth.
- Reduce progression friction by revisiting the Aeos Coin cap and free-value systems.
- Introduce cosmetic monetization such as finishing moves as a new and fair revenue lever.
- Strengthen engagement systems to improve social features and habit-forming rewards.
Mobile GamingMOBAPokémonGame Design