Pokémon Masters for iOS Launching Later This Summer, Will Feature Real-Time Battles - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Pokémon Masters for iOS Launching Later This Summer, Will Feature Real-Time Battles

by

The Pokémon Company today unveiled new information about its upcoming mobile game, Pokémon Masters. The new game was created in partnership with DeNA, the mobile developer behind official Nintendo apps like Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.

In Pokémon Masters, players will be tasked with forming a team of Pokémon Trainers to engage in 3-on-3 real-time battles with other AI Trainers. The game takes place on the island of Pasio, a place where the typical rules of Pokémon battles are different than other regions.

pokemon masters
Instead of turn-based battles, Pokémon Masters will focus on a feature called "sync pairs," which lets players team up with well-known Trainers from previous Pokémon games, and their partner Pokémon. There will be 65 total sync pairs to recruit in the game at launch, and additional sync pairs will release at a later date.

The game involves players forming a team of three total sync pairs, and fighting in real-time 3-versus-3 battles against other AI-controlled sync pairs. This means that the typical aspect of most other Pokémon games -- collecting Pokémon -- will not be present in Pokémon Masters.

Pokémon Masters introduces a new way to battle in the Pokémon world. Players will command a squad of three sync pairs in real-time team battles and release a barrage of moves—all while the AI opponent unleashes theirs at the same time.

For the very first time in a Pokémon game, players can also direct Trainers in battle to use moves and healing items to increase a Pokémon’s stats. In addition to standard moves, players can occasionally deploy sync moves—powerful attacks performed by specific sync pairs.

Pokémon Masters will launch as a free-to-start game with in-app purchases on iOS and Android devices sometime later this summer.

Tag: Pokemon

Top Rated Comments

Mikey44 Avatar
95 months ago
Which makes perfect sense unfortunately... they’d be cannibalizing their own handheld sales if they did port a full-blown Pokémon game over to mobile. BUT! I’m sure they wonder how much money they could make if they did do that. It would kill their handheld market but perhaps they could make more money since the mobile market is obviously bigger. It really is only a matter of time til their handheld does die, as sad as that may be.
Absolutely, which is kind of my argument. They won't do it because it does. I think Nintendo won't likely go the way of Sega, but will continue to experiment and push different hardware techniques and ideas. I mean the Nintendo Switch has been a huge success, which came as a surprise to many people after the failure of the Wii U. I think Nintendo fills a portion of the market that isn't met by Sony or Microsoft.

They have, and will continue to have phenomenal franchises. Zelda, Pokemon, Mario, Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing, etc ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Nintendo_franchises'). They can rely on those to sell hardware, and while I don't like being limited to Nintendo's hardware always, I do think that it allows them to provide a great/unique experience with their games.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gravydog316 Avatar
95 months ago
I wish this games existed when I was younger. Now I don’t feel like is a good use of my time, I should try it again I guess.
don't bother now, pops.
I will destroy you.
fair warning.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
95 months ago
Animal Crossing has been a real $$$$ sucker so I’m a bit worried about this.
I watch two Fire Emblem Heroes streamers readily who are top tier worldwide in competitiveness (including rank 1 worldwide), but haven’t put a cent into the game — one doesn’t even put 10 hours a week into the game.

As for Animal Crossing I spent about $5 before I figured out I could get everything I wanted eventually (not right now, eventually, and you can’t get EVERYTHING) without spending a dime.

Nintendo/DeNA and Intelligent Systems have created games where you can do everything you want for free — and be one of the top ranked, but it will require a lot of analysis, community research, and immense patience and planning for you to get there — something 99.9% of players won’t do.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
95 months ago
If you want something like this, you will likely need to pay out the nose for it. Nintendo isn't a fan of porting their games over to another piece of hardware, unless it says Nintendo on it.
It would have been awesome to see Pokemon Masters be more of a game that integrated with Pokémon Home and allowed you to battle through old gyms and such with Pokémon you have stored online. Instead of trying to be it’s own game it would be an addition to sword/shield.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
95 months ago
I wish this games existed when I was younger. Now I don’t feel like is a good use of my time, I should try it again I guess.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

macOS 27 next to MacBook Pro Running macOS 27

Apple Announces 'Full Disk Access' Changes on macOS Due to AI Agents

Friday October 2, 2026 12:59 pm PDT by
In a post on its developer news website today, Apple announced that it will be introducing "additional controls" for the "Full Disk Access" setting on macOS due to new risks posed by AI agents. This announcement comes amid the rise of always-on AI agents like Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots, which have prompted privacy concerns. "Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could...
iPhone 18 Pro Max Glacier Camera

Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced

Friday October 2, 2026 8:21 pm PDT by
Apple today confirmed that a "small number" of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network have experienced an issue that causes the device to lose cellular service, thereby preventing phone calls, text messages, and data from working. Thousands of users complained about the issue across the Apple Support Community and other platforms. Apple said it released iOS 27.0.1 earlier this week and...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Event Reportedly Planned for October 13

Sunday October 4, 2026 5:07 pm PDT by
Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to unveil an all-new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV 4K on Tuesday, October 13. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman specified that "Apple is planning to hold an event" that...
Latest Stories
macOS 27.2 Adds Touch Gestures Ahead of MacBook Ultra
macOS 27.2 Adds Touch Gestures Ahead of MacBook Ultra
1 hour ago
Apple and AT&T Have Yet to Explain Cause of iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
Apple and AT&T Have Yet to Explain Cause of iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
1 hour ago
tvOS 27.2 Code Hints at Apple Intelligence for New Apple TV
tvOS 27.2 Code Hints at Apple Intelligence for New Apple TV
1 hour ago
Apple Seeds Third macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Beta to Developers
Apple Seeds Third macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Beta to Developers
4 hours ago
Apple Releases Third watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Betas
Apple Releases Third watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Betas
4 hours ago
Apple Releases Third iOS 27.2 Beta
Apple Releases Third iOS 27.2 Beta
4 hours ago
Apple Cash Adds ID Check for Reloads, Teases Bank Funding
Apple Cash Adds ID Check for Reloads, Teases Bank Funding
4 hours ago
Apple Configurator App Updated
Apple Configurator App Updated
5 hours ago
Apple One Just Went Up in Price in These Countries
Apple One Just Went Up in Price in These Countries
6 hours ago
iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
6 hours ago
iPad Could Get Significantly Thinner Bezels, Leaker Says
iPad Could Get Significantly Thinner Bezels, Leaker Says
7 hours ago
Prime Day Is Not Just Amazon: See the Biggest Competing Deals From Sony, Best Buy, and Walmart
Prime Day Is Not Just Amazon: See the Biggest Competing Deals From Sony, Best Buy, and Walmart
7 hours ago
Apple's Newest Macs Just Got Their Biggest Price Cuts Yet on Amazon
Apple's Newest Macs Just Got Their Biggest Price Cuts Yet on Amazon
9 hours ago
Apple Watch Prime Day Deals Arrive With New All-Time Low Prices for Series 12 and Ultra 4
Apple Watch Prime Day Deals Arrive With New All-Time Low Prices for Series 12 and Ultra 4
9 hours ago
Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update
Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update
9 hours ago
AirPods Max 2 Drop to $429 in All Colors for Prime Day
AirPods Max 2 Drop to $429 in All Colors for Prime Day
10 hours ago
Apple Quietly Triples iCloud Mail Alias Limit to Nine
Apple Quietly Triples iCloud Mail Alias Limit to Nine
10 hours ago
Mac Users Reclaim 12GB+ of Storage With Apple Intelligence Removal Tool
Mac Users Reclaim 12GB+ of Storage With Apple Intelligence Removal Tool
8 hours ago
iPhone Duo Makes Focus Modes Easier to Toggle From the Lock Screen
iPhone Duo Makes Focus Modes Easier to Toggle From the Lock Screen
12 hours ago
EU iPhone and iPad Users Could Still Face Months-Long Wait for Siri AI
EU iPhone and iPad Users Could Still Face Months-Long Wait for Siri AI
12 hours ago
Today Marks the 15th Anniversary of Steve Jobs' Death
Today Marks the 15th Anniversary of Steve Jobs' Death
13 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro's Triple Live Activity Support Comes With a Catch
iPhone 18 Pro's Triple Live Activity Support Comes With a Catch
14 hours ago
Apple's New CEO John Ternus is Making Product Design a 'Major Priority'
Apple's New CEO John Ternus is Making Product Design a 'Major Priority'
20 hours ago
Apple Hiring 'iCup' Specialist
Apple Hiring 'iCup' Specialist
20 hours ago
MacBook Pro With OLED Display Rumored to Be 'Significantly Lighter'
MacBook Pro With OLED Display Rumored to Be 'Significantly Lighter'
21 hours ago
Apple Event Reportedly Planned for October 13
Apple Event Reportedly Planned for October 13
22 hours ago
Amazon Launches Early Prime Day Discounts on AirPods, iPad, MacBook Air, and More
Amazon Launches Early Prime Day Discounts on AirPods, iPad, MacBook Air, and More
9 hours ago
AirPods Pro 3 Hit Record Low $179 Price During Early Prime Day Sale
AirPods Pro 3 Hit Record Low $179 Price During Early Prime Day Sale
1 day ago
Top Stories: Apple Smart Home Launch on October 13, iPhone Duo Production Issues, and More
Top Stories: Apple Smart Home Launch on October 13, iPhone Duo Production Issues, and More
2 days ago
Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced
Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced
3 days ago