Summary
Although 2024 didn’t see any mainlinePokemongames being released, the mobile gamePokemon TCG Pocketthrived with immense success and is proving once more that the future of the franchise can be as much on mobile as it is on handheld consoles. This can be seen with titles likePokemon GOtaking the lead over the years, followed by other spin-offs likePokemon Masters EX,Pokemon Unite, andPokemon Sleep. Still, 2024 wasn’t all great news forPokemonfans, starting all the way back in spring when theonline services for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U shut down, leading to some games losing trade functions.
While mobilePokemongames continue to be successful and there seems to be no reason to worry that they might close shop in the near future, this has been happening for some games in specific regions. For example,Pokemon Uniteis going to fully shut down in Belgium and The Netherlands toward the end of 2025, with in-app purchases being terminated in October of this year. Unfortunately, as soon as November 27,Pokemon Masters EXwill follow suit in a different region.
Why Pokemon Masters EX is Supposedly Shutting Down in Vietnam
Pokemon Masters EXis shutting down in Vietnam on November 27, immediately terminating both in-app purchases and any gameplay functionalities, rendering the title impossible to launch and play. While the reason seems to be different than that ofPokemon Uniteshutting down in two European countries, it continues a sad trend for 2024 being the end of an era for somePokemongames. In 2024, severalPokemongames suffered from shutdowns or similar issues. The list includes:
This trend of shutdowns is not necessarily something that will continue happening, given that the reasons for each act are different and possibly not applicable to other regions or games. Yet, it will be another sad day whenPokemon Masters EXcloses shop in Vietnam on Jun 27, 2025, especially considering the relatively short notice.
It’s worth noting that Pokemon Masters EX is seemingly shutting down in Vietnam due to a local law requiring that games have parent companies settle a local branch. On the other hand,Pokemon Unite is shutting down in Belgium and The Netherlandsdue to the regions' policies regarding loot boxes and microtransactions.
Why The Future of Pokemon Masters EX in Vietnam is Uncertain
The in-game end-of-service notice states, “All features will continue to be available until service ends. Also, the schedule is subject to change. We sincerely thank all players for your support. Although time is short, we hope you continue to enjoyPokemon Masters EXduring the remaining days.”, which provides no indication of whether players will automatically receive or even be able to request refunds for in-game purchases. A similar situation occurred when theSteam store was banned in Vietnam, possibly for the same reasons asPokemon Masters EX.
It’s unclear if things may change in the future, possibly withPokemon Masters EXceding its publication rights to a Vietnamese company or opening a physical branch in the region. As it stands, though, players will unfortunately have to say goodbye to the game as soon as July 30, 2025, which is in just three days.
