Nintendo teased the next generation of Pokémon is coming to Nintendo Switch at E3 2017, but no further details were mentioned. Today, the company pulled back the curtain to reveal the 8th generation of the pocket monster franchise, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.
Pokémon Sword and Shield are set in a new region called Galar. While there are sure to be many new Pokémon to discover in the region, the trailer above is mostly filled with familiar faces. We can see pikachu, hoothoot, mincinno, and others.
The three new Pokémon we are introduced to are the new starters. Scorbunny is the 8th generation’s fire starter. This little guy is a little rabbit, like its name implies. Sobble is the water-type starter. Sobble is some kind of lizard that has camouflaging abilities. The grass-type starter is Grookey, who looks like a little monkey.
We also get a glimpse of the graphical upgrades we can expect as the Pokémon franchise jumps from 3DS to Switch. Fights look much more animated, there are more details to discover and added effects help the world feel more alive. The shot with the player running through a city as a subway car is whizzing by in the background looks particularly great.
Player customization also seems like it is a major focus of Pokémon Sword and Shield. There are many instances where the player character (either a boy or girl) can be seen in different outfits and dressed up in with multiple accessories. Expect to be able to go shopping all over Galar.
The trailer ends with a vague release date of “late 2019.” While it’s exciting to know there will be a new Pokémon game to play later this year, it is a bit of a bummer to not know when it’ll be here. Based on the wording, Pokémon Sword and Shield will likely release in time for the holidays. Expect this to hit store shelves in late October or early November.
So what do you think? Are you excited to learn more about Pokémon Sword and Shield? What starter Pokémon will you pick? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
