NINTENDO [OT] Pokémon Sword & Shield | Expansion launching June 17th

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[h=2]The first core Switch RPGs in the series[/h]

Pokémon’s first mainline Nintendo Switch games are Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, The Pokémon Company has revealed. They’ll launch later this year.
The games are the first totally new, traditional RPGs in the series since Pokémon Ultra Sunand Ultra Moon in 2017. A trailer showed the games’ fully 3D setting, with new areas and trainers. The region is called Galar, described as a more modern setting by director Shigeru Ohmori of Game Freak. It looks to be a factory-heavy one, with cranes, trains, and steelworks. The Pokémon Company adds that it is “idyllic countryside and contemporary cities — vast plains and snow-covered mountains.”

The Galar region. Game Freak/The Pokémon Company, NintendoWe also see trainers fighting in actual Pokémon stadiums — grassy arenas that resemble soccer fields. One trainer even walks out in a uniform, suggesting something more akin to the anime’s interpretation of the Pokémon world. Other areas include a mine, a library, a train station, and a much bigger, cuter hometown than ever before. (Ivy-covered door frames!) But as seen in the map above, the Galar region also certainly has plenty of snow to trek through; it also looks much more north- and south-oriented than previous worlds, which should make for an interesting journey.

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Sword and Shield will feature actual wild Pokémon battles, unlike the most recent Nintendo Switch games, and the usual trainer battles. There will be both new Pokémon and the reappearance of Pokémon from previous generations. (We saw monsters like Pikachu, Tyranitar, and Munchlax, for example.) There will also be the return of actual Pokémon gyms, according to the games’ website. The seventh-generation games, Sun and Moon,replaced these with island trials, a fun diversion from the usual Pokémon mold — but we missed proper battles against gym leaders and trainers. (Although none were seen in the trailer today, unfortunately.)
Also shown were the newest trio of starters toward the end of the debut trailer: grass-type Grookey, fire-type Scorbunny, and water-type Sobble.

The new starters: Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, from left to right. Game Freak/The Pokémon Company, NintendoSadly, no other new Pokémon were shown, including the starters’ evolutions, but we have time to see more before launch.
This morning’s Pokémon Nintendo Direct presentation was timed with the franchise’s birthday. Pokémon turns 23 today, with the original Game Boy games having launched in Japan on Feb. 27, 1996.
The Pokémon Company first announced in 2017 that Pokémon games for Switch were in the works. In spring 2018, those games were revealed: Pokémon: Let’s Go!, a pair of newcomer-friendly Pokémon Yellow remakes. At E3 later that same year, the company made sure to tell fans that there were more hardcore, traditional, new Pokémon spirits also destined for the console.
Earlier this year, Nintendo confirmed a late 2019 window for the next Pokémon games, in line with the traditional release schedule for the series. Let’s Go! launched on Switch in November, much like the previous mainline RPGs in previous years.
For more from Sword and Shield, check out the gallery below.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield coming to Nintendo Switch Nov. 15[/h]


Eighth-gen Pokémon arrive in time for the holidays

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, the eighth-generation Pokémon games for Nintendo Switch, will be released worldwide on Nov. 15, 2019, The Pokémon Company announced on Wednesday during a Pokémon Direct livestream.
Starting today, Pokémon fans can pre-order a double pack of the game, which includes bothPokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. Here’s a look at that double pack and the box art forPokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, featuring new legendaries Zacian and Zamazenta.

The Pokémon Company/Nintendo

Pokémon Sword and Shield are set in the new, U.K.-inspired Galar region and will introduce eighth-generation Pokémon to the series. Those new Pokémon include Sword and Shield’s starters, Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, who will be part of a brand-new story. Pokémon Sword and Shield will also introduce a new generation of Pokémon, including newcomers like Wooloo, Gossifleur, Drednaw, and Corvniknight. Sword and Shield will also have a new system called Dynamax, which will make Pokémon huge.

 

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[h=1]No, Pokémon Sword and Shield is not reusing models from recent Pokémon games[/h]


All models were remade from scratch, says Game Freak

Game Freak’s highly unpopular decision to limit Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Pokedex spawned a rumor that the studio was reusing models from recent 3DS games, making it too much trouble to include older models. But an interview in Famitsu, recently surfaced onsocial media and the Pokémon subreddit, specifically refutes this.
Somehow, this wasn’t noticed (and Game Freak didn’t repeat these explanations in their response two weeks ago), but developers rebuilt from scratch all of the models for Pokémon Sword and Shield, meaning the reused-assets rumor is bunk.
According to a translation (last month) of the interview (also last month) Game Freak’s Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori said that it was difficult enough bringing in a full Pokédex (now numbering 809) into 2016’s Pokémon Sun and Moon. The Switch’s improved graphics and visual fidelity has since lengthened the development time necessary to render Pokémon, they explained, so the decision to limit a game’s Pokédex would have been made sooner or later. It was made with Sword and Shield, so everyone’s getting this out of their system now.
A couple of finer points on this to remember: developments like Mega Evolution and Dynamax, which affect all Pokémon, have considerable effect on development, balancing and artwork, to give a sense of what Game Freak is staggering under after 20 years of games.
And further, the Pokémon Home storage system will be able to highlight Pokémon in future games even if they’re left out of Sword and Shield. That said, it’s uncertain whether Pokémon will be added to the games in post-release updates.

 

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no, pokémon sword and shield is not reusing models from recent pokémon games

okay...................

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield adds new Galarian forms of old Pokémon[/h]

Weezing, Zigzagoon, and Linoone have a new look

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company revealed new details on Pokémon Sword andPokémon Shield today, including that some returning Pokémon will have new Galarian forms and evolutions, including a very good, very British Weezing, who now sports a polluted “mustache” and a top hat/smokestack extremity.
Two other Pokémon are also confirmed to have Galarian forms: Zigzagoon and Linoone, both of which are now black and white, and looking a bit more like they’ve joined a furry KISS cover band. Linoone also has a new evolution, Obstagoon, which further proves the de Rochefort Pokémon evolution theory known as Four Legs Fluff, Two Legs Buff.
Obstagoon is an evolution exclusive to the Galar region, according to the official Pokémon website. Known as the Blocking Pokémon, Obstagoon is a dark/normal-type that uses Obstruct to goad opponents into attacking.
Elsewhere in today’s reveal trailer, we get a look at a brand-new, hamster-like Pokémon named Morpeko and new rivals Bede and Marnie — and Marnie’s most devoted fans, Team Yell.
Pokémon Sword and Shield is slated for release on Nov. 15 for Nintendo Switch. The new game will introduce eighth-gen Pokémon and the new Galar region. Sword and Shield will also add new mechanics like Dynamaxing and Gigantimaxing. The game is also getting its own limited edition Switch Lite hardware on Nov. 8, featuring the new legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield’s new villains are ... Team Yell?[/h]

The pitfalls of being an influencer

Every Pokémon game has a group that’s up to no good, but it seems that developer Game Freak is trying to make its villain topical this time around. Today’s new Pokémon trailerrevealed Marnie, a goth woman who will be your rival. She’s apparently big enough that she has a rabid fanbase who will fight for her, and they’re known as Team Yell.
How devoted is Team Yell? Well, for one thing, the dudes literally carry around Marnie posters. It’s all a touch weird and uncomfortable, but it fits with today’s world of influencers and stans. Who hasn’t gotten attacked on Twitter for saying something untoward about a celebrity?
Based on what little we know of the game thus far, it seems that Sword and Shield will take on what it’s like to be famous. You could think of big trainers as Pokémon influencers. To wit, Leon, the regional champion, is known as a famous figure whose design includes a cape full of brands.
We also know that gym battles take place in stadiums, and previous trailers have taken care to highlight all the cheering fans. A leak from earlier this year, which is increasingly looking more and more real, also notes that the upcoming games will require you to get “endorsements,” a key part of being an influencer.

NintendoPokémon Sword and Shield, which releases on November 15 for Nintendo Switch, takes place in the UK-inspired Galar region. The upcoming monster collecting games will include all-new creatures, though the title has come under fire for having a limited roster. New features include Dynamax and Gigantamax, both of which make Pokémon huge and powerful.
Sword and Shield’s starters are Grokey the grass-type monkey, the fiery Scorbunny, andSobble, the sensitive water-type.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield let Pokémon get jobs in Galar’s gig economy[/h]

New Poké Jobs let your Pokémon earn valuable experience

One new feature coming to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield that wasn’t touched on intoday’s video update is something called Poké Jobs, which lets Pokémon pick up freelance work across the Galar region.
According to the official Pokémon website, Poké Jobs consist of part-time work at corporations and universities. Trainers can look for Poké Jobs at the Rotomi at Pokémon Centers. Examples include construction work (probably a good fit for a Machoke), cooking, and farming. One Poké Job listing advertised is titled “to protect our investments,” which either means some security-type gig or street-level enforcer work for the Galar mafia. The former is probably a safer bet.
“The Pokémon you send will help out with the job, and the experience will even help them grow,” the official Pokémon website reads. “There are many different Poké Jobs available. You’ll find that certain Pokémon types are suited for specific jobs, too. Helping out for a long time or sending as many Pokémon as you can on a job can also net some good results. You might even receive some rare items!”
We’ve known that Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield would have some working Pokémon since eight-gen additions like Corviknight (a flying taxi/raven) were announced. It’s clear that some other Pokémon, like new grass starter Grookey (which can restore plant life) and Drednaw (which would make a great excavator) might also be tapped for labor. We should’ve seen this coming, given Detective Pikachu’s treatment of Pokémon as part of the workforce.
Pokémon Sword and Shield is slated for release on Nov. 15 for Nintendo Switch. The new game will introduce eighth-gen Pokémon and the new Galar region. Sword and Shield will also add new mechanics like Dynamaxing and Gigantimaxing. The game is also getting its own limited edition Switch Lite hardware on Nov. 8, featuring the new legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield will include autosave, a series first[/h]

It should help out if you stumble on a difficult encounter and want to try again

Pokémon Sword and Shield, arriving on Nov. 15 for Nintendo Switch, will include an autosave feature.
According to an interview with GameInformer, Game Freak director Shigeru Ohmori said autosave will be running in the background all throughout the game. Fans who want a more traditional experience can turn it off, which will require them to pause the game and note their progress in the in-game journal in order to save. But autosave will be turned on by default.
“It’s a new feature we’re implementing: full autosave functionality,” Ohmori said in the interview. “Traditionally in Pokémon games, it’s an important thing to write your report to record your save, and that’s always been a staple, like, ‘Remember to save your game!’ We do have an autosave feature this time, where you can just adventure and it’ll constantly save the game.”
The team behind Pokemon Sword and Shield are clearly thinking outside the box this time around. The game will include eighth generation creatures, including one shaped like a teapot and another who’s a ghost. It will also allow Pokémon to get jobs, picking up some extra cash in the Galar Region’s gig economy. Sword and Shield will even add new mechanics like Dynamaxing and Gigantimaxing. The game launches around the same time as its ownlimited edition Switch Lite hardware, which arrives on Nov. 8. That device will include new legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield needs 10.3 GB of storage to download[/h]


It’s more than double the size of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go, Pikachu!

Based on the download cards for Pokémon Sword and Shield that have started to appear in stores, the game will need 10.3 GB of free space to download onto your Nintendo Switch.
For context, here’s a list of some of the file sizes of Nintendo Switch games:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — 13.4 GB
• Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Let’s Go, Eevee! — 4.1 GB
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — 8 GB
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (with DLC) — 16.9 GB
• Splatoon 2 (with Octo Expansion) — 7.2 GB

That said, this will be the biggest Pokémon game to date, and while it won’t be the biggest Nintendo Switch game (there are many bigger), the game will have tons more content than the two Let’s Go games.
We already know the game features an open world section called the Wild Area, as well asnew Pokémon and new Galarian forms of older Pokémon. Even without a national Pokédex, the regional ‘dex is looking like one of the biggest we’ve seen, which likely contributes to the games’ size.
Pokémon Sword and Shield will be released on Nov. 15 for Nintendo Switch.

 

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[h=1]How to preload Pokémon Sword and Shield on Nintendo Switch[/h]


Download early so you won’t have to wait on release day

For anyone who wants to play Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield the second the game unlocks, preloading is a must. Now players in North America, Europe, Japan, and other territories can preload the game on their Nintendo Switch consoles.
To do so, just hit up the respective page forPokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield onNintendo’s website or the Nintendo Switch eShop and go from there, depending on which game you’re going to purchase. Keep in mind that this means that you’re pre-purchasing it, so if you still can’t decide which version you want to buy, you should probably wait.
We know that Galarian Ponyta and Sirfetch’d are exclusives to Shield and Sword,respectively, but outside of a small handful of other Pokémon, we don’t have a concrete list yet. Waiting might be the best choice if you’re really set on a specific Pokémon.
Keep in mind you’ll need about 10 GB of storage space to download Pokémon Sword orShield, if you need to clear some room on your Switch.
Pokémon Sword and Shieldrelease for Nintendo Switch on Nov. 15. The games are bringing a new set of Pokémon, the new Gigantamaxing and Dynamaxing systems, as well as the ability to make special curries for your Pokémon. New Galarian forms of existing Pokémon like Galarian Weezing and special evolved forms of pre-existing Pokémon like Obstagoon will also be featured in the game.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield will offer portable Pokémon storage, other quality-of-life upgrades[/h]

Being able to swap out your party wherever you are is a gamechanger

Pokémon Sword and Shield will let you access your Pokémon box from nearly anywhere, according to a new trailer that dropped this morning.
Normally players have to head to a Pokémon Center to swap out their party, but in Swordand Shield, players will be able to switch out what Pokémon they have on them from “almost anywhere.”
The new trailer also showed off other quality-of-life changes that will be especially helpful for competitive battlers. Using mints, players can change the nature of their Pokémon, which has an impact on their stats. Supplements like calcium and protein also seem like they will be more common.
Attacks gained from eggs will also be able to move between same-species Pokémon without explicitly breeding them, which will remove the need to ride your bike in circles to hatch 200 eggs until you get the attack you want, in the Pokémon you want.
Exp. Candy will also be making an appearance in Sword and Shield. The candy comes in different sizes, and will give blocks of experience to Pokémon for quick leveling. Both the candy system and the portable box system are nice quality-of-life improvements that were included in Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! Bringing them over to more games makes sense.
Pokémon Sword and Shieldreleases on Nov. 15 for Nintendo Switch.

 

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[h=1]No, Pokémon Sword and Shield aren’t deleting Nintendo Switch save files[/h]

Here is what’s actually happening

Now that the latest Pokémon games are out in the wild, fans everywhere are deciding between Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble. But, a segment of the fandom is also currently scared, thanks to social media posts that claim Pokémon Sword and Shield are deleting all of their Switch save files.
The issue is framed differently depending on where you look. One viral Twitter post, for example, initially states that the autosave function somehow managed to not only corrupt a Pokémon game and its save files, the crash also managed to bork save files for other games on the Switch. (The thread author later corrects themselves to name the actual issue, which we’ll get to in a moment.) On places like Reddit, players are encouraging each other to turn off autosave. At least one player on my timeline had the issue seemingly affect other games on their console:

Polygon reached out to Nintendo for comment, but the company did not respond in time for press. However, based on the expertise of Pokémon hackers like @SciresM, it seems that the panic has gotten some details about the issue wrong, at least initially.
The first thing you should know is that the glitch isn’t widespread, so the chances of you encountering this bug are somewhat slim. (If you’re hearing about it everywhere, it’s probably because it sounds terrifying, so people want to warn each other.) But, if you do come across the bug, what is actually happening?
“Basically, the operating system tries to retrieve data from disk, and that fails,” SciresM told Polygon. We don’t yet know what is causing the failure, only that, once it happens, Swordand Shield crash. What we do know is that how your SD card is formatted can affect what happens next.
“There’s this crash,” SciresM continued. “When it happens, IF you use exFAT you get corrupted.”
In layman’s terms, SD cards need to be structured before they can hold data. Formatting builds that structure, and there are a few ways to format cards. Those using the exFAT format are, in general, prone to sometimes having data corruption issues on the Nintendo Switch, which is why people often tell each other to format their cards as FAT32. So, if you encounter the problem and happen to be using FAT32 or the Switch’s internal memory, all you have to do is restart the game.
“It’s more of an operating system failure than a game failure,” SciresM said.
This may seem like splitting hairs if your data gets corrupted, but the good news is that all is not lost — literally. Given that save file data is stored on the system and not SD cards, at worst, you may just need to redownload some content. If you’re particularly worried about the possibility, it may be worth backing up your screenshots and videos stored on your exFAT SD card. But the safest thing would be to not use the format at all, if you can.

Of course, it’s still annoying to have to do anything at all to get your data back, but it’s much less severe than some folks are suggesting.
So, should you turn autosave off, then? You can if you want to, though there’s no guarantee this will actually preserve your content — right now it’s unclear if normal saves can also trigger the issue.
“Frankly I’d leave autosave on,” SciresM says. “So that if [the corruption] does happen, you don’t lose much.”
Update: Added clarification regarding how affected users identified the problem as the day progressed.

 

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[h=1]Don’t bother restarting Pokémon Sword and Shield for a Shiny starter[/h]

It’s not possible

A new Pokémon game means one thing for patient monster collectors: another Shiny hunt. There’s always a small chance that creature encounters will come in a special color variety, making “shinies” a highly sought-after commodity. Typically, players intent on amassing a Shiny collection tend to restart their new games over and over again, sometimes over the course of several hours, all in the hopes of finding a Shiny starter Pokémon. But that tradition may be ending with Pokémon Sword and Shield, the latest mainline entries in the series.
According to Pokémon hacker @kaphotics, Game Freak has implemented a “shiny lock” on legendaries and starters. This means that there’s zero chance for these monsters to appear as a Shiny variant, at least through natural means. Fans can and have hacked impossible monsters into their games before, however.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t get Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble in a unique color. But rather that restarting your games, you’ll have to rely on good, old-fashioned breeding. But hey, at least you’ll start your Galar adventure faster now, right? Well, unless you want to get a specific nature from the get-go ...

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword & Shield: How To Claim Gigantamax Meowth, Eevee, and Pikachu[/h]

Pokémon Sword & Shield have given Pokémon the power to turn into giants with the help of the new Dynamax and Gigantamax transformations and it's possible to claim three of them straight away under certain circumstances. All players can claim a Meowth that can turn into a very long cat, while the people who enjoyed the Pokémon: Let's Go! games can claim a bushy maned Eevee or a very chubby Pikachu.
It was revealed in a trailer for Pokémon Sword & Shield that five Pokémon would receive bizarre Gigantamax forms. Pokémon in the Galar can undergo a Dynamax transformation for three turns that greatly increases their power, but some Pokémon can take on a Gigantamax form that gives them new abilities. The early adopters for Pokémon Sword & Shield and the fans of the previous Pokémon games for Nintendo Switch can claim some Gigantamax Pokémon early on in the story of the latest game, so long as they know how to do it.


[h=2]HOW TO CLAIM GIGANTAMAX MEOWTH[/h]



Gigantamax Meowth was an instant source of memes, as its appearance was similar to that of the ancient "Longcat" meme from the old days of the Internet. The special Meowth that is capable of using the Gigantamax transformation is available to everyone who purchases Pokémon Sword & Shield, so long as they have Internet access and can claim it before January 15, 2020.
Once the player has chosen their starter Pokémon in Pokémon Sword & Shield, the Mystery Gift icon will appear on the menu. Simply select Mystery Gift, Get a Mystery Gift, Get via Internet, then select Yes to save the game and connect to the Internet. Select the Meowth and it will appear in the player's party or in one of their boxes if the party is full.

[h=2]HOW TO CLAIM GIGANTAMAX EEVEE & PIKACHU[/h]



In order to claim the Gigantamax Eevee or Pikachu, the player will need to have corresponding save data from either Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! or Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! for the Nintendo Switch. The save can be from anywhere in the game, so the player will be eligible to acquire the Pokémon if they borrow a physical copy of one of the Let's Go games from a friend and save straight away.
The player needs to go to a specific place in order to claim the free Eevee or Pikachu and it doesn't take long to get there. Once the player and Hop take the train journey to the Wild Area, they will depart at a station that has a couple standing in the corner. In order to claim the Eevee, the player needs to talk to the man with brown hair and a grey jacket. In order to claim the Pikachu, the player needs to talk to the lady with the blonde hair and the grey shirt. Unlike the Gigantamax Meowth, these characters are not timed and will be part of the game for the foreseeable future, so people who purchase the Let's Go games after finishing Pokémon Sword & Shield can go back and visit the couple afterward to claim their Pokémon.

ke the Meowth mentioned above, the Eevee and Pikachu cannot evolve.





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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Ball Guy is being extra friendly today[/h]

More proof that Ball Guy is good


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Some would have you believe that Ball Guy from Pokémon Sword and Shield is not your friend. But today, we’ve got one more piece of evidence that the mascot man is simply misunderstood, and is in fact Good.
Over in the official Japanese Pokémon Twitter account, Game Freak announced a Ball Guy “rally” that, once completed, will result in prizes for Sword and Shield players.

【公式】ポケモン情報局
@poke_times





まいど　おなじみ
ボク　#ボールガイ だ　ボルよ～！

次は　「#ボールガイチャレンジ」が
3万回　ツイートされたら
ガラル地方を　冒険中の　みんなに

#ヘビーボール

#ルアーボール

#ウルトラボール
を　プレゼントする　ボルよ！

ウルトラ　盛り上がって　欲しいボル～！#ポケモン剣盾






11K
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The rally isn’t technically active in the West, but notably, the official Pokémon account here has also transformed into a Ball Guy account. Note that Pokémon’s Twitter bio also calls Ball Guy a “good friend.”

[FONT=&quot]Polygon via Twitter[/FONT]So, it’s possible that a rally is incoming for western players as well. However, you don’t have to wait for the event to unfold, as the Japanese prizes can be redeemed by everyone via Mystery Gift codes that you can use in the main Pokémon Sword and Shield menu. These specialized Poké Balls will help you capture different monsters depending on the situation — the heavy ball, for instance, is more effective for bigger monsters.

Serebii.net
@SerebiiNet





Serebii Update: Two sets of codes have been revealed to redeem in Pokémon Sword & Shield
K0UN1NMASC0T: Fast Ball, Moon Ball, Level Ball
1YAHAYA: Heavy Ball, Lure Ball, Beast Ball
Available until January 15th 2020 https://www.serebii.net/index2.shtml





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Polygon tested these codes out and they are indeed active, meaning that once again, our pal Ball Guy has come through with the goods.
Don’t let the propaganda fool you. Ball Guy is a friend.

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get your balls, get your freee ballllsss
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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield getting two expansions[/h]

The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra

Pokémon Sword and Shield is getting an expansion pass, Game Freak announced during its Pokémon Direct this morning.
Two different expansions, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, will be released in June and fall 2020, respectively. Game Freak is forgoing the system it’s previously used for its main series games — releasing new, expanded games later in the the release cycle. Instead, the two expansions will open up the Galar region using a player’s existing save data.
Players can expect new gyms, accessories, and, of course, more Pokémon — in the Pokémon Direct, Game Freak said it’ll add more than 200 creatures. The Pokémon Company and Game Freak showed off new legendaries, new Gigantamax forms of existing Pokémon (like Sword and Shield’s three starters), and brand-new Pokémon that will debut in the expansions. Free updates will be released alongside the two expansions, which will let people who don’t have the expansion packs get the new Pokémon.
Beyond the new stuff to find and collect, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra will continue Sword and Shield’s story, too. The Isle of Armor appears to be an island-esque area with a dojo where players will train alongside a mentor called Mustard, who previously trained former champion Leon. The Crown Tundra is a winter world with a new co-op experience. Game Freak said the two new areas will be larger than the game’s Wild Area.
More details are expected before release. The expansion pass will cost $29.99, and can be purchased from the Nintendo Switch eShop.

 

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[h=1]Pokémon Sword and Shield starters are getting Gigantamax forms[/h]

Is that a GUN?


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During this morning’s Nintendo Direct, Game Freak revealed two expansions for Pokémon Sword and Shield which, in addition to introducing totally new monsters, will also add new forms for existing fan favorites. Notably, Inteleon, Rillaboom, and Cinderace are getting beefed-up Gigantamax forms.
While the trailer only briefly touches upon these new iterations, Game Freak did show off imagery which gives us an idea of what to expect. Rillaboom’s mane expands, and the gorilla will also gain two more drums. Cinderace, meanwhile, will be able to ride an enormous fireball. Inteleon seems to have become a sniper, which will spur Pokémon Gun memesters while also raising serious a hilarious moral quandary.

[FONT=&quot]Game Freak[/FONT]All of these Gigantamax forms will become available via The Isle of Armor expansion pass, which drops on June 2020 for $29.99. Game Freak states that players who don’t purchase the added content will still be able to attain the new Pokémon via trades.
The Isle of Armor, which marks the beginning of a new slate of content, will allow players to explore a fighting dojo where players will be mentored by a character who used to coach Leon, the former champion. Isle of Armor will provide different rivals for the player, depending on what version they’re playing.
Sword and Shield critters aren’t the only ones getting more Gigantamax forms — Game Freak also teased them for the original Pokémon Red and Blue starters as well, though we don’t yet know when they’ll be available.

[FONT=&quot]Game Freak[/FONT]Gigantamax forms don’t just embiggen and strengthen their wards for three turns — players also have access to totally new moves.
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[h=1]All the Pokémon confirmed so far for Sword and Shield’s expansions[/h]

200 Pokémon will be added across the two expansions


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The new Pokémon Sword and Shield expansions — The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra — will bring more than 200 Pokémon into the games. Developer Game Freak announced the expansions during a Pokémon Direct this morning, showcasing a number of creatures that’ll appear in the game, including three entirely new Pokémon: Kubfu, Urshifu, and Calyrex. Later, the Japanese Twitter account tweeted out more that’ll appear in the Galar region come the expansions.
Likewise, more Pokémon will have Gigantamax forms — most importantly, Sword and Shield’s three starters.
Here’s the full list of Pokémon confirmed in today’s Pokémon Direct for the Sword and Shield expansions:

• Volcarona
• Lycanroc
• Regice
• Registeel
• Regirock
• Two new Regi-types
• Venusaur
• Blastoise
• Aurorus
• Sealeo
• Garchomp
• Kingdra
• Dedenne
• Nidorino
• Chansey
• Azurill
• Elekid
• Magnezone
• Zorua
• Beldum
• Cryogonal
• Crobat
• Mewtwo
• Kyogre
• Groudon
• Zekrom
• Reshiram
• Galarian Slowpoke
• Galarian Articuno
• Galarian Zapdos
• Galarian Moltres
• Kubfu
• Urshifu
• Calyrex

GRID VIEW​

From what was shown in the Pokémon Direct, we can infer that other evolutions of these Pokémon will be added, too — Larvesta, Rockruff, Amaura, Spheal and Walrein, Gible and Gabite, Horsea and Seadra, Nidoran and Nidoking, Nidorina and Nidoqueen, Happiny and Blissey, Zoroark, Marill and Azumarill, Metang and Magnezone, Zubat and Golbat, Electabuzz and Electivire, Bulbasaur and Ivysaur, and Squirtle and Wartortle.
The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra will be released in June and fall 2020, respectively. Players that don’t purchase the expansions will receive a free update allowing them access to the newly added Pokémon through trading, since they won’t have access to the new areas. Some of the newly added Pokémon will be exclusive to specific versions of the game — Sword or Shield.
The expansion pass will cost $29.99 at the Nintendo Switch eShop. It’s available now for pre-order.
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[h=1]Pokémon Home will cost $15.99 a year for premium users[/h]

The app is launching in February


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When Pokémon Home, The Pokémon Company’s cloud-based storage system, launches in February, two pricing options will be available: Basic and Premium. The company updated its website today with new information about the app.
The Basic plan is free, but gives players limited access to Pokémon Home’s features — the number of Pokémon that can be deposited, for instance. The Premium plan has three options: one month for $2.99, three months for $4.99, or 12 months for $15.99. Deciding which plan to get should be easy: If you want to deposit a lot of Pokémon — more than 30 — you’ll need the Premium plan.
These are all the features available in each plan:
[h=3]PREMIUM PLAN UPGRADES[/h]

Features	Basic	Premium
Moving Pokémon from Pokémon Bank	No	Yes
Number of Pokémon that can be deposited	30	6,000
Number of Pokémon that can be placed in the Wonder Box at once	3	10
Number of Pokémon that can be placed in the GTS at once	1	3
Room trade	Participate	Participate and host
Judge function	No	Yes

Pokémon Home will connect on the Nintendo Switch with Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!(The company noted, however, that a Pokémon moved from Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! cannot be moved back to the games once it’s been transferred to Sword and Shield. Pokémon can move freely between Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, though.)
Both the mobile app and Switch versions will allow players to connect to Pokémon Bank, the older Pokémon storage system from the Nintendo 3DS era. The Pokémon Company said Pokémon Home will eventually support Pokémon Go, too — but not at launch.

[FONT=&quot]Image: The Pokémon Company/Nintendo[/FONT]Players will be able to trade through the Wonder Box, Global Trade System (GTS), Friend Trade, and Room Trade. These can all be accessed from the Pokémon Home mobile app. The Wonder Box is used to trade with people around the world even when you’re not using the app, while GTS is for the times you want to be specific with what you’re trading and receiving. You’ll be matched with a trainer that meets the criteria input. The Premium plan increases the amount of Pokémon that can be traded at once for each of these options.
Room Trade allows players to create a room to freely trade Pokémon in, and each room can hold 20 people. Friend Trade, on the other hand, is trading with users you’re friends with, naturally. “To add a little suspense, you won’t know what Pokémon you’ll receive until the trade is complete,” The Pokémon Company wrote.
Pokémon Home has a bunch of other features, too, like the National Pokédex, where you’ll be able to see all the Pokémon you’ve collected across games. Mystery Gifts are accessible through Pokémon Home, too. There’s also the Judging feature, which will let players check how strong their Pokémon are.
Lastly, The Pokémon Company detailed the Your Room feature, which is essentially a profile that you can edit and customize with stickers earned from challenges in-app.
Battle data will also be available “sometime after the February 2020 launch of Pokémon Home,” according to the website. “In the mobile app version of Pokémon Home, you can check out how Ranked Battles and various Online Competitions in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are going, as well as the rankings of the Pokémon being used in them,” The Pokémon Company wrote. “By going to Battle Data, you’ll be able to see the battle records of each Trainer as well as information about what moves are popular among the Pokémon in the competitions.”
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[h=1]Pokémon Bank going free for a month to allow Home transfers[/h]

You can’t transfer back to Bank from Pokémon Home


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With Pokémon Home’s Premium plan, Pokémon enthusiasts will be able to transfer 6,000 creatures to the cloud-based storage system. Players will be able to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, and Pokémon Bank. (Later, players will be able to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Go.)
If you’re a player whose been collecting creatures for years throughout the games but has let your Bank subscription lapse — or never had a Bank subscription — you’re in luck. The Pokémon Company is giving players Pokémon Bank for free for a month to get all their Pokémon into the new system — but it’s a one-way ticket.
“To commemorate the release of Pokémon Home, we will make Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter available at no cost for a one-month period after Pokémon Home is released,” The Pokémon Company wrote on its website. “You’ll be able to bring Pokémon from various Pokémon series games using Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter. Once you’ve got your Pokémon in Pokémon Bank, you’ll then be able to move them to Pokémon Home.”
Once Pokémon are in Pokémon Home, they can be transferred only to Sword and Shield, as long as they’re part of the Galar Pokédex.
Pokémon Bank was launched in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS. The paid service costs $4.99 a year to keep up to 3,000 Pokémon, and is compatible with Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon X and Y, and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. An add-on, Poké Transporter, lets players transfer from early core game series on the Virtual Console.
There is no exact release date yet for Pokémon Home, just that it’s coming in February.




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