What a year it’s shaping up to be for the Pokémon franchise.
The Powers That Be over at Nintendo, Game Freak and The Pokémon Company are now operating on two fronts; on the one hand, they have Rob Letterman’s live-action Detective Pikachu movie due for release in May, before the fresh-faced Pokémon Sword and Shield grace the Nintendo Switch later in 2019.
Hot off the presses, Pokémon Sword and Shield are the latest mainline additions to the reputable series, and will introduce budding trainers to the all-new region of Galar, filled with an “idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and the Pokémon who live there work together closely to develop the industries in the region. Fans will have the opportunity to visit various gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become champion.”
And yes, it seems the Internet has (generally) fallen head over heels for Pokémon Sword and Shield, save for the bizarre starter Pokémon: Grookey (grass), Scorbunny (fire), and Sobble (water).
End of 2018: Man, Nintendo's 2019 looks barren.
"Here's Super Mario Maker 2, Yoshi's Crafted World, Astral Chain, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion 3, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Pokemon Sword/Shield…"
Damn Nintendo. Slow down.
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) February 27, 2019
Along the way, there will be many more never-before-seen Pokémon waiting to be discovered!
They’re waiting for you, Trainers. Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be released simultaneously worldwide in late 2019.#PokemonSwordShield ⚔ 🛡 pic.twitter.com/1AiXNWhGZM
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/PkmnSwordShield/status/1100763600715726848
And another round of knee-jerk reactions to Pokémon Sword and Shield, which is already shaping up to be one of the 2019 heavyweights.
In #PokemonSwordShield, you’ll explore the expansive Galar region, which is filled with idyllic countryside and contemporary cities—vast plains and snow-covered mountains. ⚔ 🛡 pic.twitter.com/ECtjU6K8kp
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) February 27, 2019
Pokemon Sword and Shield looks nice, but going back to random encounters feels like a step back. Having the Pokemon in the overworld in Let's Go made the world feel so much more vibrant. pic.twitter.com/0hxUUkNUI6
— Tristan Cooper (@TristanACooper) February 27, 2019
I will protect this sad water boi with my LIFE #sobble #pokemon pic.twitter.com/NNrqaJvRJe
— Hannah McMillan (@HannakinM) February 27, 2019
#pokemonswordshield Game Freak naming Pokemon games: pic.twitter.com/zk7GFRsbv9
— smoov (@smoov22_sonic) February 27, 2019
From the gorgeous 3D landscapes to the random encounters, Sword and Shield look set to introduce a number of exciting changes to the wonderful world of Pokémon – even if some prefer having those pocket monsters roam the overworld as was the case in Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee.
Pokémon Sword and Shield will release exclusively for the Nintendo Switch before the year’s end. Neither Game Freak nor The Pokémon Company have committed to a tangible release date, but we’ll let you know if and when that changes.
