Game Freak Clarifies Why All Pokemon Are Not In Sword & Shield

It’s no news that Nintendo & Game Freak has a new Pokémon game on the way this coming November with Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield for Nintendo Switch. The iconic series takes the pocket monster hunting franchise to their take on England with the Galar region: offering Max Raid Battles and the Wild Area for players to explore and discover new Pokémon.

Recently at this year’s E3 at the Nintendo Tree House, spokesman for the series Junichi Masuda announced that the coming eighth generation of Pokémon will not include all Pokémon from previous generations for the first time. Leaving fans anticipating to transfer previous gen Pokémon upset with unfortunate news.

Since then, users outraged over the archives of Pokémon saved made from playing or trading through different means became very vocal on the matter as a result.

Until recently as Masuda made a statement on the matters of how Game Freak came to the decision for certain Pokémon absent from the upcoming games and reassures those who were worried about left behind Pokémon are in no danger.

Just like all of you, we are passionate about Pokémon and each and every one of them is very important to us. After so many years of developing the Pokémon video games, this was a very difficult decision for me. I’d like to make one thing clear: even if a specific Pokémon is not available in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, that does not mean it will not appear in future games.

Meaning, if one Pokémon you were excited to play in the new region did not make the cut, you will have to wait for the next title to transfer the respected Pokémon. Understandably, it looks that Game Freak did not have enough time to include all Pokémon as each require their own unique model, animations, and stats that are then entered into the game. As for extra content Pokémon that was speculated to be introduced via DLC, that doesn’t seem to be the case as the post does not address that as a possibility.

Seeing further in Masuda’s statement that the new line of Pokémon titles will offer new and authentic Pokémon with the Galar region, it is best to enjoy what is being added rather than simply just reflecting on what already happen in previous installments.

Pokémon Sword & Shield will be available on November 15, 2019 for Nintendo Switch.

Source: Game Freak