With Pokémon Unite confirmed to shut down in Belgium and the Netherlands on November 30, 2025, many fans are now asking the obvious question: Could Pokémon GO be next? The answer, while uncomfortable, is leaning toward yes — and it’s all tied to the game’s heavy reliance on microtransactions, loot box mechanics, and paywalls.
The Shadow of Pokémon Unite’s Shutdown
The Pokémon Company’s decision to abandon Pokémon Unite in two entire countries didn’t come out of nowhere. Both Belgium and the Netherlands have strict laws against loot boxes and gacha mechanics, considering them forms of gambling. Because Unite’s monetization revolves around randomized systems, the developers opted to pull the plug rather than rework their cash flow.
But while Unite was the first to fall, many players argue that Pokémon GO is no different — and in some cases, even worse.
Loot Boxes Disguised as Eggs
One of the most glaring examples lies in Pokémon GO’s egg hatching system. Players must buy incubators to hatch eggs, but the contents are random. Spending money for a chance at a rare Pokémon isn’t far from pulling a slot machine. Critics argue that this is exactly the kind of gambling mechanic that Belgium and the Netherlands have outlawed.
Niantic may not market it as a “loot box,” but functionally, that’s exactly what it is. You pay for an incubator, roll the dice, and hope the game spits out the Pokémon you want.
Pay-to-Win Walls Everywhere
Even outside eggs, Pokémon GO is riddled with pay-to-win structures:
- Raid Passes: Free players get just one pass per day. Paying players can chain raid after raid, farming rare Pokémon and candy at a pace that’s impossible to match without spending money.
- Exclusive Research Tickets: Some Pokémon and shinies are permanently locked behind event tickets that cost real money. If you don’t pay, you’ll never get them.
- Storage Expansions: Item and Pokémon storage caps hit hard. To participate properly in raids or PvP, players almost have to buy expansions.
The more you spend, the faster and stronger you grow. Free players are left behind in a cycle that looks very much like a classic pay-to-win ecosystem.
Belgium and the Netherlands Could Strike Again
If regulators already deemed Pokémon Unite’s monetization practices as non-compliant with gambling laws, there’s little reason why Pokémon GO should be considered safe. In fact, the similarities are glaring: both games use RNG to extract money, both sell gameplay advantages, and both rely heavily on microtransactions for survival.
The only difference is that Pokémon GO is bigger — far bigger. It’s one of Nintendo and Niantic’s most profitable titles, still generating millions every month. Shutting it down in two regions would cause a massive backlash, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table.
The Pain of Losing Another Pokémon Game
For players in Belgium and the Netherlands, the sting of losing Pokémon Unite is already painful enough. Watching the same threat loom over Pokémon GO feels like déjà vu, only worse. Unlike Unite, Pokémon GO has been a cultural phenomenon for nearly a decade, shaping how people experience Pokémon in their daily lives.
If Niantic refuses to adapt its monetization practices, the game could very well face the same shutdown. That would mean players losing access to years of progress, their rare Pokémon, their shiny collections, and — perhaps most unfairly — all the money they’ve poured into the game over the years.
A Warning Sign That Shouldn’t Be Ignored
For now, Pokémon GO remains active in both Belgium and the Netherlands. But with anti-loot box laws tightening and regulators clearly willing to take action, the writing may already be on the wall. Unless Niantic and The Pokémon Company adapt, fans in these regions could once again see their beloved game ripped away.
The shutdown of Pokémon Unite may not be the end of Pokémon gaming here — it might just be the beginning of a larger purge.
