The Pokémon franchise will return to mobile gaming next month. Pokémon Masters will officially arrive on iOS and Android starting August 29.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pokémon Masters features "a strong focus on cooperative play." A gameplay demo showcased three players joining forces to "unleash a special unity attack." Pre-registration is now available for iOS players. According to the synopsis,
Pasio is an artificial island where each Trainer has one trusted Pokémon partner. Together, the Trainer and their Pokémon are known as a sync pair, and they participate in 3-on-3 team battles.
The Pokémon Masters League (PML) is a tournament held on Pasio. It features Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, Champions and other all-stars from every region, who come together to form teams and participate in intense, 3-on-3 team battles.
To participate in the PML, players must battle PML Leaders all over Pasio to obtain five badges. You, as the main character, will team up with Pikachu to form a sync pair, sharing in many adventures as you strive to qualify for the PML.
In addition to Pokémon Masters, Pokémon Rumble Rush is now available for free on iOS. The game has been available on Android since May.
Pokémon Go also has some big plans. Recently, the hit mobile game collaborated with One Piece for the Kumamoto Revitalization Project, a fundraiser to reinvigorate 20 of the communities in Kumamoto's Nishihara Village that were damaged during an earthquake last April. Recent additions to Pokemon GO include Pokestops featuring Straw Hats statues and a straw hat-wearing Pikachu with a red ribbon. The hat will also be available for players as an in-game item.
Further, Pokémon Go has launched an additional event revolving around Team Rocket. Now, players are haunted by "Shadow Pokémon," who battle on behalf of Team Rocket. Once defeated, the Shadow Pokémon can be captured and added to the player's Pokedex. Players are also challenged to complete a series of tasks involving Shadow Pokémon.