Last month, Game Freak and The Pokémon Company launched the Crown Tundra, the second post-launch growth for Pokémon Sword & Shield. This marks the primary time the franchise has leaned this closely on post-launch content material being added to a mainline game. Traditionally, the sequence has launched the 2 simultaneous mainline entries (see: Pokémon Red & Blue or Pokémon Sun & Moon), adopted by one or two standalone variations that symbolize an improved version of the previous games (see: Pokémon Yellow or Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon).
With Pokémon Sword & Shield, the primary all-new mainline Pokémon RPG to hit consoles, Game Freak and the Pokémon Company launched the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra expansions over the course of 2020. While this method would not give gamers the baked-in excuse to replay the latest entry with myriad additions and streamlined components added, it does present gamers with numerous benefits. I requested the Pokémon Company if this method takes the place of the standard technique of updating games by way of follow-up standalone titles. You can see the Pokémon Company’s response under.
There was a component of apprehension in shifting to a downloadable mannequin, however we had been assured that gamers would take pleasure in exploring the brand new environments, uncovering new storylines, and assembly new human characters and Pokémon in each The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. With previous titles, gamers typically needed to gather and lift their Pokémon fully from scratch, so with a DLC we thought gamers would take pleasure in with the ability to use their favourite Pokémon proper out of the gate.
With the Crown Tundra, gamers might enterprise into Pokémon Dens for Dynamax Adventures. Through this technique, you possibly can battle and catch Legendary Pokémon from the assorted areas that got here earlier than Galar. According to the Pokémon Company, this got here from a want in altering the best way Legendary Pokémon are caught.
The thought for Dynamax Adventures began with the staff desirous to introduce new components to Max Raid Battles. We assume Dynamax Adventures was the proper method to obtain this. We wished to vary the best way during which Legendary Pokémon are captured in our games. Some of the Legendary Pokémon that seem in Dynamax Adventures differ between Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. Only by becoming a member of up with gamers utilizing a distinct model will you have got an opportunity to catch them as nicely.
Unfortunately, the Pokémon Company wouldn’t touch upon if there was extra content material deliberate for Pokémon Sword & Shield. Pokémon Sword & Shield launched final November, whereas the Isle of Armor expansion launched in June and the Crown Tundra expansion hit in October. To be taught extra concerning the making of Pokémon Sword & Shield, take a look at our large behind-the-scenes cover story.
