Pokémon Sword and Shield News
October2019
Gallery Gorgeous Pokémon Sword And Shield Concept Art Revealed
How Galar was born
If you're excited for the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield - and getting bored of staring at that livestream - you might want to feast your eyes on these new concept art pieces which have been revealed for the upcoming games. The pieces you see below have been shared by Game Informer as part of their exclusive coverage of the...
Watch Pokémon Sword And Shield's 24-Hour Livestream Is Now Live
What will we see?
Update (4th Oct, 14:00 BST): Okay folks, it's time! You can now tune in to the Pokémon Sword and Shield livestream. We're not entirely sure what to expect, but the premise has us very intrigued indeed. <liveblog id="pokemon_livestream_2019-04-10" tags="#PokemonSwordShield" video=" Original Article (27th Sep, 14:45 BST):...
News The Pokémon Company Issues A Statement About The Number Of Gyms In Sword And Shield
The new entries will still offer a "traditional Gym" experience
Earlier this week, we found out Pokémon Sword and Shield would include a "whopping" 18 Gyms, split across 'Major' and 'Minor' leagues in a Game Informer cover story. Although we already knew different Gyms would appear depending on which version of the game you were playing, The...
News Official Pokémon Sword And Shield Jerseys Are Coming And We Wanna Buy 'Em All
Show your team's colours
It was always only going to be a matter of time before a new splattering of official Pokémon Sword and Shield merch arrived on the scene and these new designs are amongst the coolest bits of Pokémon gear we've ever seen. That's right, sport-style jerseys of the new games' starter Pokémon - Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Will Have 18 Gyms Spread Across 'Major' And 'Minor' Leagues
One for each type?
Most of us are likely familiar with the Pokémon series' standard of eight Gyms to find and defeat - until Pokémon Sun and Moon did away the idea altogether, of course - but Pokémon Sword and Shield look set to revolutionise the system all over again. In the new games, a whopping 18 Gyms will be featured. They'll be split...
News Junichi Masuda Says Cut Pokémon Will "Definitely" Return In Future Games
Gone but not forgotten
Earlier this year, Sword and Shield producer Junichi Masuda shocked the Pokémon community when he revealed some creatures would be left behind. After much backlash from fans, it resulted in him releasing an official statement, saying how it was a "very difficult decision" to make. He also explained at the time that if a...
News Around 1,000 People Worked On The New Pokémon Games For Switch
The biggest team ever!
Pokémon Sword and Shield might not include every pocket monster, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a small game. In fact, it's such a big project, more than 1,000 people were reportedly involved in its development. Speaking to Game Informer, director Shigeru Ohmori explained how the core team who developed the Sun and...
News HMs Won't Be Returning In Pokémon Sword And Shield
"we didn’t feel it really matched the game"
Hidden Machines (HMs) used to be a major aspect of the Pokémon video game series, but it seems like Game Freak is doing away with this concept once and for all. After being replaced with summonable rides in the Sun and Moon series on 3DS, this time around – in Sword and Shield – "HM-based elements"...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Will Have An Autosave Function, But You Can Turn It Off
So everyone's happy?
Update (1st Oct, 17:40 BST): Last month, fans spotted a new 'Now Saving' message in some Pokémon Sword and Shield Direct footage, causing many to believe that the new games may support an autosave function for the very first time (you can read more on this below). As it happens, the games will indeed support autosave, but you...
Random Pokémon's Junichi Masuda Lands In UK, Treats Himself To A Cheeky Nando's
And shares an awful lot of sheep photos
In what must qualify as the most important story you'll read today, we share with you the news that Game Freak and Pokémon director Junichi Masuda has arrived in the horribly rainy UK, chowing down on a cheeky Nando's and taking a surprising number of sheep photographs. Masuda-san has arrived in the UK as...
Guide Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For October And November 2019
Luigi's Mansion 3! Pokémon Sword and Shield! Switcher 3!
As we bid farewell to summer and begin the descent towards the holiday season the gaming calendar tends to get clogged with releases, and 2019 is no exception with games coming thick and fast as we speed towards Halloween and beyond. As the evenings draw in and things start getting decidedly...
September2019
Feature How Significant Is Britain's Influence On Pokémon Sword And Shield?
United Kingdom of Great Litten and Noivern Ireland
We’re only a couple of months away from the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield and the games’ trailers have given us plenty to get excited about. For us, the very best thing about Sword and Shield is that they’re set in the UK-inspired Galar Region. As a British site, we've always imagined...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield's 'Glitched' Pokémon Is Sirfetch’d, A Version-Exclusive
The evolved form of Farfetch'd
As promised, The Pokémon Company has revealed the identity of the 'glitched' monster which was teased on its official website. The Pokémon in question is Sirfetch’d. Described as the 'Wild Duck Pokémon', Sirfetch’d is the evolved form of Farfetch'd. We've got some official artwork and a description for you...
News Sword And Shield's 'Glitched' Pokémon Will Be Revealed Tomorrow
See it for yourself
Update (17th Sep, 11:00 BST): It has now been revealed that the 'glitched' Pokémon spotted on the official Pokémon Sword and Shield website earlier this week will be revealed tomorrow, 18th September. The reveal is set to happen at 22:00 JST / 14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT / 06:00 PDT. -- Update (18th Sep): And here's the full...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 14th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another week has flown by, this time full of Switch controller LED light revelations and stories of what might just be the very first time anyone has managed to reach the Switch's maximum playtime for a single game. We're feeling more than ready to sit down for some gaming over the weekend, and as usual,...
News Carry Your Nintendo Switch Lite In This Fetching Pokémon Sword And Shield Bag
Looking groovy with Grookey
We know exactly what it's like to look fresh, hip, and down with the cool kids of today (we really don't), so you may or may not want to trust us when we say that this new Pokémon Switch Lite accessory is a must-have. Jokes aside, this new product will, of course, be a great pick for any Pokémon fans who like its...
Random There Are More Than 20 Flavours Of The New Fairy-Type Pokémon Alcremie
Move aside, Unown
Pokémon Sword and Shield include a lot of new pocket monsters unique to the Galar region. One of these is the Fairy-type cream Pokémon, Alcremie. Fans got their first glimpse of this creature in a special trailer showing off Gigantamaxing. While you've probably already seen this Pokémon, what you might not know is that there...
Round Up Everything Announced In The September 2019 Nintendo Direct
Overwatch! Star Wars! More Smash Bros. DLC! SNES games!
Well, the latest Nintendo Direct arrived yesterday with a whirlwind of announcements - some unsurprising, others utterly unexpected. Being the helpful souls we are, we've collected all the trailers in one place for your leisurely perusal. Lovely! If you missed the Direct you'll find the entire...
News Pokémon Sword & Shield Will Feature A Pokémon You Can Drink
"Its body is made of tea"
If you thought a "whipped cream" Pokémon was the weirdest possible addition to the Galar region's Pokédex, you were clearly mistaken. In the most recent Nintendo Direct, Game Freak introduced two brand-new Pokémon for your battling (or drinking) pleasure: Cramorant, and Polteageist (the latter of which is apparently...
News Camps, Curry And Customisations Come To Pokémon Sword And Shield
Wild new details appeared! (Yes, we used that one again.)
Among the plethora of announcements made in today's Nintendo Direct were quite a few updates regarding Pokémon Sword and Shield - including character customisations, camps, and... curry rice? Yes, Game Freak have finally answered the prayers of their hungry fanbase and included that...
News The Pokémon Sword And Shield Anime Will Be Set Across Every Region From Kanto To Galar
With Pokémon from each
Remember last week when an episode summary for the Pokémon anime revealed that a world exclusive announcement was coming? Well, it's arrived, and we have mixed feelings. On the one hand, the announcement just turned out to be an announcement for yet another announcement. Good grief. On the other, though, the little pieces...
August2019
News Nintendo Brings Pokémon, Panels And Unreleased Games To PAX West
Starts next week
The video game convention PAX West 2019 kicks off next week on 30th August and runs until 2nd September. As usual, there'll be a lot of major developers and publishers in attendance. Of course, one of the companies present will be Nintendo. At its own booth, Nintendo will be showing off the following unreleased titles: Luigi’s...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Won't Support Pokémon Global Link
Pokémon HOME and Switch Online to pick up the slack
The Pokémon Company has released a statement informing players that Pokémon Global Link will not be supported by the upcoming Gen VIII Switch pair Pokémon Sword and Shield. Instead, it seems that the new service Pokémon HOME will be inheriting some of the functionality you'd expe
Video The Latest Pokémon Sword And Shield Video Shows A Railway Town Up Close & Personal
Choo choo, Mothim-Furrets
As the Gamescom event gets underway in Germany, we're getting all sorts of lovely video game news. Not to be left out Game Freak's Director of Pokémon Sword and Shield Shigeru Ohmori is featured in a video which shows off a bit more of the game to eager Pokémon fans. In the video Ohmori-san takes us on tour of a...
News Pokémon TCG Embraces Sword And Shield With New Expansion, Powerful 'V' Cards Introduced
Zacian V and Zamazenta V confirmed
Warning: The following trailer may be too epic for some viewers. The Pokémon Trading Card Game is about to leap into a new generation with Sword & Shield, an upcoming expansion for the game which unsurprisingly ties into the upcoming video games. You can get a first look at some of the cards set to be...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Info Drop Reveals Battle Stadium, New Abilities And More
Galarian Weezing is a beast!
The Pokémon Company has shared fresh details on Pokémon Sword and Shield as part of its World Championships event taking place as we speak. Most of the new details can be found in this brand new trailer above, but we'll run through them for you below: First up, the previously announced Galarian Weezing will have an...
Random This Morpeko Reversible Pokémon Plush Is Adorable But Very Expensive
Choose full belly mode or hangry mode
When the Pokémon YouTube channel showed off an incredibly short two-minute trailer for Sword and Shield earlier this week, one of the new creatures revealed was Morpeko. This electric dark type Pikachu lookalike can change forms, swapping between full belly mode and hangry mode. It's also arguably the most...
Random KISS' Gene Simmons Has Something To Say About New Pokémon, Obstagoon
After fans spotted the resemblance
Images: Pokémon / @genesimmons Earlier this week, The Pokémon Company shared fresh details for the upcoming Switch games, Pokémon Sword and Shield. Alongside the mischievous Team Yell and the
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Introduces 'Poké Jobs', A New Way To Net Rare Items
And gain experience, too
The Pokémon Sword and Shield news just keeps flying in with new information now being shared on 'Poké Jobs', a new feature that will be present in the game. Despite not being mentioned at all in the new trailer shared today, the games' official website has shared details on this new in-game option. You'll find that plenty...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield's Team Yell Sound Like A Total Nightmare, In The Best Way Possible
Prepare to have your battles ruined
We've just been treated to a lovely dollop of new information on Pokémon Sword and Shield - what do you mean 'you haven't seen it'? Go and watch it now! The very end of the new trailer was dedicated to the game's antagonists, Team Yell. Just like Team Rocket, Team Magma/Aqua, Team Galactic, and others before...
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Will Feature Galarian Forms, New Rivals And Team Yell Revealed
And a 'Hangry' Pokémon!
As promised just a couple of days ago, new information has been released concerning the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield for Nintendo Switch. You can see the announcements for yourself in the video above. Among them are new Galarian forms of fan-favourite monsters, a new, form-changing Pokémon, new rivals, and an...
News More Pokémon Sword And Shield Info To Be Dropped On 7th August
Jot down these times
Our next taste of Pokémon Sword and Shield info is set to arrive later this week, it has been revealed. The news comes from the official Pokémon Twitter account, which is referring to the upcoming info drop as a 'Galar Research Update'. It is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday 7th August at 6am PDT (so that's 9am EDT / 2pm BST...
July2019
Video 25 Wonderful Switch Games Yet To Come In 2019 And Beyond
A laundry list of loveliness
Unlike the Wii U days, it's hard to keep track of all the delicious vittles that are coming in the form of games for the Nintendo Switch. Naturally we remember some of the bigger names, but it's just too damned many to be able to recall completely without a spreadsheet and a very dull Saturday night. Well lucky for you...
News We've Re-Translated That Pokémon Sword and Shield Interview Quote
Because even we are confused...
It's fair to say that there are a lot of fans looking forward to upcoming game Pokémon Sword and Shield that comes to Switch later this year. Because it's the first mainline game since the 3DS-era people are, rightly or wrongly, expecting a fair boost in visual fidelity when it comes to the Pokémon visuals. Now, an...
News Game Freak Isn't Reusing 3DS Models In Pokémon Sword and Shield
It's not what it looks like
Earlier this month, there was a theory the Japanese developer Game Freak was "recycling" 3DS models and animations in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Despite producer Junichi Masuda explaining how the limited Pokédex was tied to "higher quality" animations - when footage comparing the past and present pocket monster games...
Video Latest Japanese Sword And Shield Commercial Shows New Pokémon In Action
Bigger than before
The Pokémon Company has posted a new one-minute commercial for the upcoming Switch release Pokémon Sword and Shield on its Japanese YouTube channel. This brief clip showcases the many different environments in the Galar region while also showing some of the newer pocket monsters and human characters previously revealed in a...
News Nintendo Switch Lite Is Getting A Special Pokémon Sword And Shield Edition
Available later in the year
The Nintendo Switch Lite has just been officially unveiled by Nintendo, with three different colours set to be available at launch. On top of the three standard colours, though, you can also pick up a special Pokémon edition. Officially called the 'Nintendo Switch Lite Zacian and Zamazenta Edition', this console will be...
News New Pokémon Sword And Shield Pre-Order Goodies Appear On Nintendo UK Store
Pick up some bonus items
The Nintendo Official UK Store has updated its listings for Pokémon Sword and Shield, throwing in some bonus goodies at no extra cost. The games were originally available on the store for the full £49.99 retail price, each as standalone items. Now, the games have remained at the same price but include a lovely looking...
Gallery Check Out Some New Pokémon In These Sword And Shield Screenshots
Feast your eyes
Today, The Pokémon Company lifted the lid on a whole bunch of new monsters from Pokémon Sword and Shield, as well as a handful of new characters from the Galar Region the game takes place in. You can find all the details here, but we thought you might like to look at all the new screenshots that were also revealed today, which...
News Get Ready To Gigantamax As New Pokémon Are Announced For Sword And Shield On Switch
Go big or go home
New Pokémon have been revealed for the upcoming Pokémon: Sword and Shield on Nintendo Switch, as well as some brand-new human characters to boot. It has also been revealed that Dynamaxing – the previously-announced tactic which caused 'mon to grow in size during battle – is just the tip of the iceberg. Gigantamaxing will...
News Game Freak Prefers To "Implement New Things Fairly Gradually" In Pokémon
And it will "continue to do new things gradually"
Pokémon fans around the world have been dreaming about a vast open-world 3D entry in the series for far too long now. Just imagine an adventure in the style of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or even similar to the Level-5 title, Yo-Kai Watch 4. Returning to reality, Game Freak doesn't...
News Is Game Freak "Recycling" 3DS Animations In Pokémon Sword And Shield On Switch?
What happened to the "higher quality" animations?
After Game Freak revealed Pokémon Sword and Shield wouldn't include every pocket monster, producer Junichi Masuda was forced to explain how part of this decision was tied to the fact the team was required to create much
June2019
News Junichi Masuda Releases Official Statement About Limiting Sword And Shield's Pokédex
"This was a very difficult decision"
During a Nintendo Treehouse Live segment at this year's E3, Game Freak producer Junichi Masuda shocked fans when he revealed Pokémon Sword and Shield would not include every pocket monster. Before this, long-time players were expecting to be able to catch 'em and even transfer 'em all. In an interview with US...
News Luigi's Mansion 3 And Link's Awakening Nominated For 'Best Console Game' Of E3
Switch nominees across multiple catogories
Now that E3 2019 has wrapped up, 64 judging publications for the Game Critics Awards have selected this year's 'best of E3' nominees. The winners will be announced on 27th June. First party Nintendo titles are featured across multiple categories. Luigi's Mansion 3 is up for best console game, best...
News Tweet Analysis Reveals Controversial Pokémon Cull Has Fans Evenly Split
Hard Pokéscience using AI, language processing and bar charts
Update: It appears that we misinterpreted this data in our original story, specifically the ‘sentiment’ analysis. After reviewing the findings again, the zero value tweets that display “no emotion at all” appear to include the #BringBackNationalPokedex example itself, which we...
News More Than 52,000 People Voted For Their Favourite Pokémon, Here Are The Results
Spoilers: Four didn't receive any votes at all
The upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield have the series' fanbase in an uproar at the moment after it was revealed that the games wouldn't feature every single monster. We've already spoken about the topic at length should you wish to join the discussion, but wherever you st
News Nintendo, Creatures And Game Freak Apply For 'Dynamax Band' Trademark In Japan
Increase the size of your Pokémon
One of the new features in Pokémon Sword and Shield is the "dynamax" ability – allowing trainers to transform their pocket monsters into giants on the battlefield for a short period of time. There are also raids in the game where you can fight alongside other players to defeat these overly large Pokémon. With...
Soapbox Why Sword And Shield's Pokémon Purge Will Benefit Everyone
And how the cull draws focus from more significant issues
When you're trying to please a fanbase that's been around for over 20 years, any major change to the status quo will always divide opinion. Pokémon is a series that’s kept under heavy scrutiny by its loyal community, with each minute detail studied under a Silph Scope with no place for...
News Pokémon Was The Second Most Pre-Ordered Title At GameStop During E3
Call of Duty takes out the top spot
Video game retail giant GameStop has revealed the most pre-ordered upcoming releases shown during E3 2019. Three Nintendo titles made the cut and one third-party release also coming to the Switch was featured. Activision's next entry in the Call of Duty series took out the top spot and Pokémon Sword and Shield...
News Pokémon's Junichi Masuda Explains The Decision To Limit Sword And Shield's Pokédex
It was always going to happen sometime
Earlier in the week, as Pokémon Sword and Shield was shown off during Nintendo Treehouse Live at E3, it was revealed that not all Pokémon would be featured in the game. Rather than having the usual, complete Pokédex available by transferring your old catches over, only those found in the new Galar region...
