Pokemon Unite developers reveal reasons for roster picks

Olivia Richman Published 19/10/2021

Pokemon fans are often curious about who the next addition to the Pokemon Unite roster will be. And with forgettable Pokemon like Eldegoss and Crustle making the cut alongside fan favorites such as Lucario and Charizard, it could hypothetically be any of them

With almost 900 Pokemon being released across 25 years, there are so many to choose from. So how do the developers do it?

Pokemon Unite’s team recently opened up about the MOBA’s roster in the latest issue of Famitsu, which was translated by Nintendo Everything. So how did they decide between all of the eclectic and powerful Pokemon in the iconic series?

How do they choose who is coming to Pokemon Unite next?

When it comes to the Pokemon Unite roster, it’s more about popularity than power.

“We chose Pokemon based on how easily players could pick their battle style from looking at them,” producer Masaaki Hoshino explained. “As a Pokemon fan myself, I wanted a variety of Pokemon to take part in the game.”

This included Pokemon that are often not considered part of the core popularity of the collection, like Crustle. Hoshino called them an “eccentric pick” as the team explored all of the possibilities.

And what about the Pokemon found throughout the map? Hoshino explained the team’s decision regarding wild Pokemon as well.

“We chose wild Pokemon based on how well they matched the atmosphere of a stage,” Hoshino said.

The producer also noted that the team deferred to the Pokedex when it came to how each wild Pokemon behaves on the map. For example, a defeated Rotom sets off to destroy the opposing team’s goal. This is based on Rotom’s tendency to “disrupt electronic appliances,” according to the Pokedex.

This most definitely explains some of the surprise picks in Pokemon, including Mamoswine and Blissey. But for the most part, it seems that the team wanted to go for the most iconic Pokemon that fans would immediately recognize, like Gardevoir, Blastoise, Pikachu, and Lucario.

Who is the next Pokemon coming to Pokemon Unite?

Greedent is the next Pokemon to be added to the Pokemon Unite roster. The cute rodent arrived during the Halloween Festival event.

So far, there haven’t been any leaks or hints at upcoming Pokemon coming to Pokemon Unite. But going off of Hoshino’s interview, it could be almost any Pokemon!

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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