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Video gaming
AbacusGames

Tencent’s Pokémon Unite is like League of Legends with Pikachu for Nintendo Switch and smartphones

  • Tencent is converting another world-famous game franchise for smartphones
  • The Pokémon Company recently released two more smartphone games

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Pokémon Unite will release on both Nintendo Switch and smartphones, with gamers able to play together no matter which platform they choose. (Picture: Tencent/The Pokémon Company)
Ravi Hiranand
Tencent’s mysterious Pokémon project has finally been revealed -- and it looks like the Chinese giant is drawing inspiration from its most famous game.
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Pokémon Unite is a new five-on-five team battle game coming to Nintendo Switch and smartphones. Players team up in multiplayer battles, each picking a Pokémon like Pikachu, Charmander or Snorlax. Then they venture out into an arena to battle wild Pokémon and capture territory from the opposing team -- while defending their own from attack.

Pokémon Unite takes the MOBA template and adds many classic Pokémon elements, including catching. (Picture: Tencent/The Pokémon Company)
Pokémon Unite takes the MOBA template and adds many classic Pokémon elements, including catching. (Picture: Tencent/The Pokémon Company)
If that sounds familiar, it’s because this game looks like a Pokémon take on a classic MOBA game like League of Legends, Dota 2 or Honour of Kings. And that shouldn’t be a surprise: Pokémon Unite is being created by Tencent’s TiMi Studios, the same developer that made Honour of Kings, arguably China’s biggest homegrown game.
Chinese game developers are increasingly being recognized for their expertise in creating mobile games. Some of the biggest names in gaming have partnered with companies like Tencent and NetEase, entrusting them with taking valuable brands like PUBG, Diablo and now Pokémon and turning them into hits on mobile. Tencent’s Call of Duty Mobile -- based on the hit PC and console franchise from American developer Activision -- racked up over 250 million downloads in nine months.
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Tencent’s TiMi Studios made an appearance in the game’s introduction video, with Pokémon toys littered around the office. (Picture: Tencent/The Pokémon Company)
Tencent’s TiMi Studios made an appearance in the game’s introduction video, with Pokémon toys littered around the office. (Picture: Tencent/The Pokémon Company)
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