Pokémon Masters EX[a] (originally named Pokémon Masters) is a free-to-play gacha mobile game for Android and iOS developed and published by DeNA.[1][2] It is based on the Pokémon media franchise. Set on the artificial island of Pasio, the game allows players to battle and recruit various prominent Pokémon Trainers from the main series games and anime. Originally named Pokémon Masters and released in August 2019,[3] it was renamed Pokémon Masters EX in August 2020 on the first anniversary of the game.[4][5]
| Pokémon Masters Pokémon Masters EX | |
|---|---|
 Game Icon | |
| Developer(s) | DeNA |
| Publisher(s) | DeNA |
| Director(s) | Katsuyuki Shiga Noriaki Murakami |
| Producer(s) | Yu Sasaki Tetsuya Iguchi |
| Designer(s) | Yuichi Kanemori |
| Programmer(s) | Kazumitsu Ota |
| Artist(s) | Ken Sugimori |
| Writer(s) | Koichiro Tsuro Yuka Sugano Naoki Muto |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Series | Pokémon |
| Platform(s) | Android, iOS |
| Release | August 29, 2019[note 1] |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Co-operative multiplayer |
Gameplay
editThere is a tournament of 3-on-3 battles being held on Pasio Island called the Pokémon Masters League. The main goal is to become its Champion. To enter the Pokémon Masters League, players must collect at least five Badges by defeating the PML Leaders located in Pasio. When recruiting most sync pairs, the player can unlock a sync pair story. Players can also participate in limited-time events which are regularly added and updated. Events feature both single-player story events and also co-operative multiplayer events in which players must team up to defeat powerful enemies in order to receive event rewards and prizes.
Sync pairs
editIn Pokémon Masters, a sync pair is a pair consisting of one Pokémon Trainer who had previously appeared in the core games or the anime and one Pokémon (usually one that is best associated with that character, e.g. Ash Ketchum being paired with his Pikachu). Each sync pair has one of five roles: the initial three were strike sync pairs, which are focused on attacking (and are either classed under physical or special); support sync pairs, which are focused on defending, restoring health points, and increasing the stats of the whole team; and tech sync pairs, which are focused on different tactics, such as inflicting status effects. August 2023 added two additional roles: sprint sync pairs, which are focused on attacking quickly; and field sync pairs, which are focused on triggering field effects. Sync pairs can be recruited by playing the main story, through scouting or by completing certain timed events. Occasionally, a character will get a variant of themselves (usually to tie in with specific timed events), which usually sees them wearing an alternate costume that also pairs them up with a different Pokémon to which the costume is usually themed, though "variety" Sync Pairs will give an characters who play in minor roles in core series such as Team Rocket Executives and do not give the character an alternate costume though the character is given a different Pokemon.
Development and release
editPokémon Masters was first announced by The Pokémon Company on May 28, 2019, alongside some other Pokémon games.[6] It represents the first collaboration between the company and mobile game developer DeNA, it had been released for Android and iOS.[7] The concept of the game came from series artist and designer Ken Sugimori who proposed the idea of having all past characters from the main series together in one game.[2]
A preview version of the game was released in Singapore on July 25, 2019, and in Canada on August 6, 2019. The game was released worldwide on August 29, 2019, for iOS and Android phones.[8][9]
In commemoration of the game's first anniversary, Pokémon Masters was updated with new features as Pokémon Masters EX on August 25, 2020.[10]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 63/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Life |   [12] |
Pokémon Masters EX received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[11]
Within four days of its global release, Pokémon Masters has been downloaded 10 million times and recorded $10 million in revenue.[13] Within its first week, the revenue figures were increased to $26 million.[14] In its first month, the game generated $33 million in revenue and $75 million within its first year.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ Romano, Sal (June 27, 2019). "Pokemon Masters launches this summer, presentation and fact sheet". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Makuch, Eddie (May 29, 2019). "New Pokemon Game, Pokemon Masters, Coming To Smartphones". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
- ^ Fahey, Mike (2019-06-27). "Pokémon Masters Brings Real-Time Team Battles To Mobile This Summer". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ "『ポケモンマスターズ EX』公式サイト". 『ポケモンマスターズ EX』. Archived from the original on 2020-09-06. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "One-Year Anniversary Site | Pokémon Masters EX". 1stanniv.pokemonmasters-game.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Big Pokémon News from Tokyo". The Pokémon Company. May 28, 2019. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Lee, Julia (May 28, 2019). "Pokémon Masters will bring back favorite trainers". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
- ^ Francesco (July 24, 2019). "Pokemon Masters Global Release Date Confirmed For iOS, Android". touchtapplay.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- ^ Beckhelling, Imogen (August 23, 2019). "Pokémon Masters confirms late August release date". eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "One-Year Anniversary Site | Pokémon Masters EX". 1stanniv.pokemonmasters-game.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ a b "Pokemon Masters". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Merrick, Joe (September 1, 2019). "Pokémon Masters Review (Mobile)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Pokémon Masters hits 10 million downloads in four days". VentureBeat. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Dedmon, Tanner (7 September 2019). "Pokemon Masters Made $26 Million in First Week". Comicbook. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Taylor, Haydn (October 1, 2019). "Pokémon Masters generates $33m revenue in first month". gamesindustry.biz. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
- ^ Chapple, Craig. "Pokémon Masters EX Catches $75 Million Player Spending in First Year". Sensor Tower Blog. Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
Notes
edit- ^ Due to time zones, the game was released on August 28, 2019 in North America, even though it was released at the same time as the rest of the world. The United States Pokemon.com Archived 2019-09-01 at the Wayback Machine page lists the release date as August 28, while the Pokémon Masters official website Archived 2019-09-01 at the Wayback Machine lists the release date as August 29.
