Belgium and Netherlands to Remove Pokémon Unite from Digital Stores
Pokémon Unite, the popular free-to-play MOBA developed by Tencent’s TiMi Studios, will no longer be available in Belgium and the Netherlands starting from November next year. This decision comes as a response to the ongoing crackdown on loot boxes in games within these countries.
All versions of Pokémon Unite, including those on Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch, will be removed from digital stores on November 30, 2025. Subscriptions and in-game items will also no longer be purchasable from October 31 of this year.
In an announcement on its website, The Pokémon Company expressed gratitude towards players in Belgium and the Netherlands for their support, while also apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the game’s removal.
Although The Pokémon Company did not provide a specific reason for discontinuing the game in the statement, the decision is likely linked to the strict regulations on loot boxes in Belgium and the Netherlands. Loot boxes have been deemed illegal under Belgium’s gambling laws since 2018, and the Dutch government is actively working towards implementing a ban on loot boxes while closing existing loopholes.
Pokémon Unite, which incorporates a Prize Machine feature similar to loot boxes, is not the only game to be affected by these regulations. In the past, Activision Blizzard canceled the launch of Diablo Immortal due to the regulatory environment in these countries, and other games like Overwatch have had their loot boxes removed to comply with the restrictions.
While the UK has been less aggressive in legislating loot box practices, the government has warned the gaming industry about protecting young players from potential harm. As a response to these concerns, UKIE, the UK’s trade association for the gaming industry, introduced 11 Principles aimed at enhancing protections for players of all ages.