While Pokemon Unite is technically already playable on Nintendo Switch, it’s also set to launch for mobile on September 22. A lot of people will probably just install it on the day - it’s a free-to-play game that’s readily accessible across multiple companies’ proprietary app stores. Why bother pre-registering? Just download it on day one. Sorted.
Actually, not sorted. I rarely pre-order games because, like... why would I? I don’t typically care for the kind of video game merch that gets lumped in with special editions and limited editions and anniversary editions and director’s cut editions and the very best like no one ever was editions. There’s usually no benefit to me choosing to pre-order or pre-register for a game instead of waiting for launch, at which point I have the luxury of being able to read reviews before making an informed decision. I can count the number of games I have pre-ordered in my lifetime on one hand. Pre-registration for Pokemon Unite is different.
Over the past few weeks, Pokemon Unite developer Timi Studios has been issuing various bonuses as part of a pre-order initiative. Most of these rewards were things I didn’t really care about: cosmetic items for Pikachu and silly stuff like that. This is par for the course when it comes to service games - why not throw nice but ultimately useless cosmetic items at people free of charge in order to boost engagement and, subsequently, investment? It’s a no-brainer. Nothing is ever truly free.
The latest stretch goal for pre-orders is tied to racking in 7.5 million people prior to launch. While I originally didn’t give it much thought, my interest was piqued when I saw the newest reward: 1,000 Aeos Tickets. Now that is a pre-order bonus I can get behind.
For those unacquainted with how Pokemon Unite works, it’s a MOBA that revolves around five-on-five matches on a map named Remoat Stadium. Obviously you pick a Pokemon - Blastoise recently joined the roster and is brilliant, while unassuming support characters like Wigglytuff are certified S-tier - although there’s more to it than just selecting a ‘mon. You also need to assign three held items to your character, all of which can be improved by levelling them up with item enhancers. These item enhancers are - you guessed it! - largely locked behind a whopping microtransaction barrier. Want to do tons of extra damage? Fork over $12 and level up your Scope Lens - now Absol’s crits hit even harder.
I might sound a bit salty, which is probably because I sort of am. While I don’t think Pokemon Unite is pay-to-win, its microtransaction footprint is large and dirty. That’s why the recent announcement that people will get Aeos Tickets just for signing up for the game is exciting - if it’s replicated for future gimmicks tied to new ‘mons, maps, or modes, we might just be able to level up our held items without breaking the bank after all.
For context, 1,000 Aeos Tickets is worth 100 item enhancers. That’s not an enormous amount - you need 2,587 item enhancers to upgrade just one item from level one to 30. Still, 100 is a lot more than zero. I don’t imagine Timi is going to be particularly generous all that often, but seeing minor initiatives like this gives me hope that Pokemon Unite - which, again, I do not think is pay-to-win - will retain its free-to-play approach and refrain from alienating players with mandatory microtransactions and miserable marketing schemes tied to pointless cosmetics. Actionable rewards are actually worthwhile.
So, yeah. Go pre-order Pokemon Unite, basically. It is in both your and my interest that you do so if you have any intention of playing the game and it will probably take you less than 30 seconds. If it manages to match that crucial figure of 7.5 million pre-registrations, we all get 100 item enhancers for free. What’s more, if this works, maybe we can expect more Aeos Tickets - hell, maybe even Aeos Gems! - for future pushes. This isn’t only important because of what we immediately receive from it. It’s important because the reaction to this is what will colour Timi’s perspective on freebies in future. It’s like Oliver Twist asking for more gruel except a) it’s for fake little badge things that level up items in a video game and b) we’re at much less risk of being clocked across the forehead with a ladle.
Pokemon Unite may not be pay-to-win, but any free material is still obviously appreciated. Here’s hoping all of us F2P players max out our Muscle Bands before 2022.