Pokémon Sword and Shield News
January2021
News The Pokémon Company Has Started To Send Out Zarude Codes Via Email (Europe)
Check your inboxes
Newsletter emails containing a code for the Mythical Pokémon Zarude have started rolling out to players across Europe, allowing them to add the creature to their team in Pokémon Sword and Shield. As we detailed back in December, players had the chance to sign up to the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter to receive a code –...
Random Japan Gets Exclusive Pokémon Treats For Valentine's Day
When you love someone so much you want them to eat Pikachu's face
Japan always gets all the fun. They get to put their head in Gengar's mouth. They get all this super-cute Animal Crossing loungewear. Here in the UK, we're lucky if we get a localised release of a five-year old game (
Random Man Forges Popsicle Sticks To Win Pokémon Contest, Gets Arrested
Zarude used Sandstorm
Oh dairy me - looks like someone got caught with his hand in the ice cream jar. Takashi Ono, a 43-year old man from Japan, was arrested today under suspicion of fraud, after attempting to win Pokémon cards through illegal means. A competition run by Japanese ice-cream manufacturers, Akagi Nyugyo Co., asked people to send in...
December2020
News Student Sells $80k Pokémon Card Collection To Pay For University
Caleb used Pay Day! It's super effective!
Remember when everyone was convinced that Beanie Babies would make us a mint if we kept them for 20 years? Remember the crushing realisation that that was utter rubbish? Well, it turns out the same wasn't true for Nintendo cards, especially for young Caleb King, who has so far turned a tidy $80,000...
News Pokémon Fans' Raspberry Pi Project Allows Twitch To Play Pokémon Sword
Here we go again
People keep doing amazing things with technology. Last week, it was a chap playing Among Us on the Wii (sort of); this week it's Twitch Plays Pokémon Sword. Reddit user DmitrievStan posted a video of his complicated setup that allows him to stream his Nintendo Switch to T
Video New Pokémon Sword And Shield Trailer Explores Galar Attenborough-Style
A wild trailer appeared
Just in case you hadn't yet explored the wonderous environments of Pokémon Sword and Shield's Galar region, Nintendo's here with a brand new trailer which explores everything it has to offer. Centring around the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra – the two areas added to the game via the DLC Expansion Pass – the video...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Version 1.3.1 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
More fixes
Have you played through Pokémon Sword and Shield's Part 2 DLC yet? If not, now might be the perfect time to return - with Game Freak rolling out version 1.3.1 right before Christmas. Here are the full patch notes, courtesy of the Nintendo UK website: Ver. 1.3.1 (Released 22 December 2020): Fixed a number of issues so that gameplay is...
Random Man Accidentally Names Nephew After A Pokémon
Plans to reveal it to parents as Christmas gift
On the notorious Reddit board, TIFU - short for Today I F***ed Up - one user has spilled the beans on the inspiration behind his newborn nephew's cool name. Little baby Zacian's parents have no idea that his name is actually the name of a big dog with a sword in his mouth, it would seem, and user...
Feature What Can We Expect From Pokémon’s 25th Anniversary?
2021 marks 25 years of catching 'em all
It’s Thanksgiving and time for the Macy’s Parade in New York. After float upon float showing various things, in comes a familiar yellow friend. Multiple Pikachu have come and started dancing to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, at the end, something is uncovered... the Pokémon 25th anniversary logo...
News The Pokémon Trading Card Game Is Getting A Shake Up With New 'Battle Styles' Mechanic
Epic new trailer shows it in action
The Pokémon Company International has announced a brand new gameplay mechanic which looks set to shake up the Trading Card Game's tried and trusted formula. Called 'Battle Styles', this new way to play includes 'Single Strike Style', which delivers powerful, hard-hitting attacks that can Knock Out an opponent in...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Players Can Now Sign Up For A Zarude Code (Europe)
Get a Zarude code here
If you're still on the hunt for the Mythical Pokémon Zarude in Pokémon Sword and Shield, a new way to claim the monster has now been detailed by The Pokémon Company. Originally, players in the UK were told that they'd be able to grab a code for Zarude by heading to their local GAME store or via the retailer's website, but...
November2020
Guide Pokémon Sword And Shield - All Ash’s Pikachu Codes
Update: Last weekend to get all eight of Ash's Pikachu
Update: As a quick reminder, this is your last weekend to enter all of the Ash's Pikachu codes below into Pokémon Sword and Shield. The codes remain valid until 30th November. To celebrate The Crown Tundra, the second piece of DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield, players can now get their hands...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield's Gloria Has Finally Been Given A Voice, And It's (Very) British
Gloria arrives in Pokémon Masters
A tweet regarding a new update to Pokémon Masters has taken Twitter by storm this morning as fans of the series hear the voice of Sword and Shield protagonist Gloria for the first time. The character, who serves as the base female option players can choose from at the beginning of Pokémon Sword and Shield's...
Soapbox Here's How I'd Fix The Pokémon Series
Alex decides to pika-part the mainline games
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, senior video editor Alex Olney explains how he would "fix" the Pokémon series... Pokémon is a series that has always been extremely dear...
Poll Pokémon Sword And Shield Launched A Year Ago, Has Your Opinion On Them Changed?
Better than you thought? Or a major let down?
Pokémon Sword and Shield, the latest entries in Game Freak's world-dominating monster-catching franchise, launched just over a year ago on 15th November 2019. Now that they've been in our hands for a good while, we thought it'd be interesting to see how fans of the series are feeling about them after...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Zarude Distribution Begins In Europe And US
Global distribution starts now
Update: Pokémon Sword and Shield's Mythical monster Zarude is now being distributed across select parts of Europe and the US, meaning its global distribution has finally begun. The Pokémon can now be redeemed by using special serial codes obtained from select retailers (with online options available if stores aren't...
News Why Pokémon Sword And Shield Got DLC Instead Of A Standalone Follow-Up
Changing times
The current generation of Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch has potentially changed the way we'll get our regular pocket monster fix moving forward. Based on Pokémon Sword and Shield, it looks like the new model could be to release paid DLC expansion content, rather than make fans buy standalone follow-ups. What's the reason behind...
News A Second Zarude Form Will Soon Be Distributed To Pokémon Sword And Shield Fans In Japan
'Dada Zarude'
Pokémon Sword and Shield players in Japan will soon be able to get their hands on a new form of Zarude, a Mythical Pokémon that appears in this year's animated movie. The new form, called 'Dada Zarude', will reportedly be distributed to fans who attend viewings of Pokémon the Movie Coco at Japanese cinemas starting next month. The...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 7th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's been another busy week with plenty of new data from Nintendo revealing that the Switch has now outsold the NES, that Super Mario 3D All-Stars sold over 5 million copies in just 12 days, and even an updated list of
Random Ball Guy Is Getting His Very Own Pokémon Trading Card
Flex those muscles
One of the most memorable characters in Pokémon Sword and Shield is Ball Guy - a mascot for the Galar region Pokémon League. Each time you meet up with him throughout your journey, he gives you a different type of Poké Ball. It seems he'll be going beyond the video game very soon, as he's making an appearance in the upcoming...
Reminder Pokémon Sword And Shield's Physical DLC Bundles Are Available Starting Today
Base game and all DLC included
Update: As a quick reminder, the physical Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass bundles are now available for purchase. You can find both games available from the Nintendo UK Store for £76.99 each below, with more Galar region merch also available, or you can get them slightly cheaper at Amazon: Sword UK / Shield...
News With The DLC All Wrapped Up, Here Are The 234 Pokémon Still Unavailable In Sword And Shield
Did your favourite make the cut?
With The Crown Tundra now available to enjoy in Pokémon Sword and Shield, the series' eighth generation of games is theoretically complete. Alongside the base games, we've had The Crown Tundra and The Isle of Armor DLC packs, both of which have added more content and more Pokémon into the mix. As you'll no doubt...
October2020
News Good Smile Releasing Pokémon Sword And Shield Marnie & Morpeko Figure
Arrives June 2021
Arguably one of the best characters in Pokémon Sword and Shield is Marnie - a rival of yours. You get to know her more as you journey across the Galar Region and since the launch of the new generation, this character has established quite the following. One of her trading cards in the original S&S set is even in high demand...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 24th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Here we are at the end of another week, which this time brought us a seriously hot take on Nintendo's business practices, a Super Mario Bros. 35 bombshell, and the announcement of an iconic
News Pokémon HOME Update Out Now, Adds Crown Tundra DLC Compatibility
Download it today!
The cloud and storage service Pokémon HOME has today been updated to version 1.2.0 on Nintendo Switch and version 1.3.0 on mobile devices. Most notably, this update adds compatibility with part two of Pokémon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass, addresses some other issues and much more. Below are the full patch notes: - Added...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield's Crown Tundra DLC Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Version 1.3.0 has arrived
Pokémon Sword and Shield's second piece of DLC, The Crown Tundra, is now available on the Nintendo Switch. As previously noted, this extra content includes a new adventure, the chance to catch legendary pocket monsters from past generations, new Pokémon, a new Galarian Star Tournament, a new way to battle and much more...
News Early Build Of Pokémon Sword Allegedly Leaked Online
Out in the wild
Earlier this year, Nintendo was on the receiving end of a massive source code leak. Since then, we've heard and discovered all sorts of things about the company's older video games and hardware. The leaks haven't stopped, either. In the latest development, there's now been another Pokémon one, but this time it's rather different as...
News New Pokémon Video Series Explores The UK Areas That Inspired Sword And Shield's Galar Region
Update: Episode 2 arrives
Regrettably, this incredible Pokémon bus didn't stop by Nintendo Life HQ on its travels... Update: Episode 2 is now live and we've added it below; Sam and Mark take their first steps into the Wild Area, guided by Clare Siobhán. Original Article: Pokémon Sword and Shield's Galar region is full of exciting towns,...
News Sword And Shield's Crown Tundra Galarian Star Tournament Is The Game's "Hardest Challenge"
And unlocking it takes time
Previews of The Crown Tundra DLC, the second DLC to be released for Pokémon Sword and Shield, have revealed new details regarding the Expansion Pass' new content. In a report from VG247, more details on the DLC's post-game Galarian Star Tournament have been shared. The write-up confirms that the tournament –...
News Pokémon HOME Maintenance Scheduled Ahead Of Sword And Shield's Crown Tundra DLC Launch
Preparing for the new content
Scheduled maintenance for the Pokémon HOME app has been detailed ahead of this week's The Crown Tundra DLC launch in Pokémon Sword and Shield. The maintenance will affect both the mobile and Nintendo Switch versions of the app, and is set to take place from Thursday 22nd October at 23:00 UTC until Friday 23rd October...
News Legendary Pokémon Found In Sword And Shield's Crown Tundra DLC Have A 100% Catch Rate
Capture guaranteed!
This week sees the launch of Pokémon Sword and Shield's second piece of DLC, The Crown Tundra, bringing with it the chance to catch all legendary Pokémon from past games. If you're worried about missing one, or if the idea of intense battles against so many legendary 'mon sounds a bit daunting, you have nothing to fear. New...
Reminder The Pokémon Sword And Shield Theme Returns To Tetris 99 This Weekend
Don't miss it!
To promote the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield DLC (The Crown Tundra), Nintendo's battle royale game Tetris 99 is this weekend hosting a special pocket monster-themed event from 16th - 19th October. If you missed this theme the first time around, it's a little easier now - as it is unlocked at 50 events points instead of 100...
Video 17 Exciting New Games Coming To Nintendo Switch In October
Your backlog will be thrilled
Whether you're ready or not, the holidays are right around the corner and as per usual, they're bringing a batch of new games to Switch. The battle royale take on everyone's favorite platforming plumber, Super Mario Bros. 35 is off to a great start, Nickelodeon is taking another spin at the kart racing genre with,...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield 'Battle of Legends' Online Competition Announced
Sign-ups now open
A new online competition is headed to Pokémon Sword and Shield, and legendary and mythical Pokémon will have a starring role. This new contest allows each player to have one Legendary Pokémon or Mythical Pokémon on their Battle Team and – just like past events – will have trainers competing against one another from around...
September2020
Random Pokémon Fans Are Loving Bump Of Chicken's Nostalgic New Music Video
Premiered during today's Pokémon presentation
As part of today's Pokémon presentation, which revealed the release date for the upcoming Crown Tundra DLC in Pokémon Sword and Shield, The Pokémon Company premiered a new music video featuring a song from Japanese alt-rock group, Bump of Chicken.
News A Pokémon Sword And Shield DLC Bundle Hits Stores This November
DLC included on cart
Update: First pre-orders are now live! If you're yet to pick up a copy of Pokémon Sword and Shield on Nintendo Switch, you might want to consider holding off for this special bundle. Set to launch on 6th November are these Pokémon Sword + Expansion Pass and Pokémon Shield + Expansion Pass physical bundles. As you might...
That's not long to wait!
Pokémon Sword and Shield's second piece of DLC, The Crown Tundra, is set to launch on 22nd October, it's been revealed (or 23rd October for Europe). For those who've picked up the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, this new content includes new adventures to explore, a chance to catch legendary Pokémon from past...
Watch Pokémon Sword And Shield Expansion Pass - New Details Revealed!
Will we get a Crown Tundra release date?
Update: And the show is now over! You can still watch the full video below if you want to catch up on all the news. Original Article: The time has finally come for us to learn more about Pokémon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass! A brand new video from The Pokémon Company is set to premiere at 6am PDT /...
News More Info On Pokémon Sword And Shield's The Crown Tundra DLC To Be Shared Tomorrow
New Pokémon presentation is on the way!
The Pokémon Company will share more information on Pokémon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass in a livestream tomorrow, 29th September, it has been confirmed. A video has appeared on the company's YouTube channel which is due to premiere tomorrow at 6am PDT (so that's 2pm BST / 3pm CEST). The description...
News Nintendo Reminds Us About Pokémon Sword & Shield's Crown Tundra DLC With New Trailer
"Coming soon"
It somehow feels like forever ago since we first got our hands on the Isle of Armor DLC in Pokémon Sword and Shield, but let's not forget that more action is headed our way this year. A new trailer has been released for The Crown Tundra, the second slice of Sword and Shield DLC that's planned to launch in autumn 2020. Interestingly,...
Talking Point Are Shiny Pokémon Too Common These Days?
One Corviknight in shining armor too many?
Shiny Pokémon are a staple of the Pokémon franchise, but as time has progressed, things have shifted and the ways to get them have become more plentiful. Here, we’re taking a look at Shiny Pokémon, their history, how things have changed and asking the question: are they too common now? What are Shiny...
August2020
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 29th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week has flown by with new reports of an upcoming Switch console revision and that surprise Nintendo Direct Mini, but now it's time to take a breather and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Members of Nintendo Life have done just that below, and we'd love for you to join in via o
News All Pokémon Sword And Shield Players Can Get A Free Gastrodon This Weekend
But you'll have to act fast!
The free pocket monster giveaways just keep on coming in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Until tomorrow, you can grab a competitive Gastrodon via Mystery Gift. All you'll need to do is input the following code - PJCS2019CHAMP - in your game. It was made available during today's Japan Championships 2020 stream. Here's a...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Players Can Claim A Free 'Battle-Ready' Porygon 2 This Weekend
Another welcome Mystery Gift
Update: Here's the code (via Serebii.net): PKMNPLAYERSCUP The free Pokémon just keep coming, as Pokémon Sword and Shield players will soon be able to get their hands on yet another sought-after monster. Following on from the shiny Amoonguss giveaway from a coupl
News All Pokémon Sword And Shield Players Can Get A Free Shiny Amoonguss This Weekend
But you'll need to act fast!
Pokémon Sword and Shield players can snag a rare, shiny Pokémon this weekend thanks to a new code distributed by Pokémon Korea. The Pokémon in question is the Grass- and Poison-type Amoonguss, which would usually have red and white colouring, rather than the blue you see above. To get your hands on it, you simply...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 8th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another week has been and gone, this time bringing with it the announcement of Pikmin 3 Deluxe for Switch, a surprise Smash Bros. Ultimate update, and a much-needed Switch menu icon change, but now it's
Video The Final Episode Of Pokémon: Twilight Wings Is Now Live
See the grand finale
Here we are then, folks. The final episode of Pokémon: Twilight Wings, the online-exclusive Pokémon anime series, is now live. If you've been watching the series from the start, you'll no doubt be itching to see how everything concludes. The episode's summary is particularly vague, so we'll follow suit and avoid any spoilers...
News Sword And Shield Are Now The Best-Selling Pokémon Games Since Gold And Silver
New figures put them ahead of Diamond and Pearl
Earlier today, we shared an updated list of Nintendo Switch's top ten best-selling games. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the standout star of the show, but the update shows that other titles including Pokémon Sword and Shield have also seen a significant boost in sales over the
July2020
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 18th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With yet another week down - this time bringing with it a new Switch update, the LEGO NES console and an official Animal Crossing Instagram account, no less - it's finally time to sit back and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Members of Tea
News Shiny Wailord Appears In Pokémon Sword And Shield Max Raid Battles For A Limited Time
A guaranteed shiny? Yes please
Max Raid Battles have shifted in Pokémon Sword and Shield for a limited time, allowing fans to get their hands on an elusive shiny Wailord. From now until 19th July at 23:59 UTC, Max Raid Battles will feature more water-type Pokémon than usual. Players will come across the likes of Kingler, Mantine, Sharpedo,...
