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Today marked a Pokemon Direct which unveiled a few announcements, as well as a new game. The Direct lasted just a little over 20 minutes and was hosted by Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of the Pokemon Company. The full presentation is available on the company’s YouTube and can be viewed below:

The Direct began with the announcement of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX. Originally released back in 2006, this remake is set to include content from Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, which launched for the DS and Gameboy Advanced respectively. This title launches on March 6, 2020, and is currently available to pre-order. A demo version coincides with this on the eShop and can be downloaded today. Save data in the demo will carry over to the main game.

Next, Game Freak revealed that an expansion pass is on the way for Pokemon Sword and Shield. Traditionally, a third game would launch from the same region as its predecessor with a bit more content and story to discover. This can most notably be seen from Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon which took place after the events in the Alolan region of Pokemon Sun and Moon. What makes this expansion pass stand out from previous iterations is that you are able to utilize your save data right away. There is no need to start all over from the beginning.

The expansions include the following bits of information:

  • The Isle of Armor (Part 1) – available June 2020.
  • The Crown of Tundra (Part 2) – available Autumn 2020.
  • Purchasing the expansion grants two special in-game uniforms.
  • In The Isle of Armor, owners of Sword are to be rivaled with a trainer named, Klara, a Poison user, while Shield owners rival with one named, Avery, a Psychic user.
  • Both versions will be mentored by a man named, Mustard, who also was a League Champion.
  • Different people and creatures are found in each version.

Pokemon Direct

  • Two versions of the expansions are available for purchase, one for Sword and one for Shield.
  • A Galarian Slowpoke is available today for owners of the games.
  • In the Isle of Armor, Kubfu, a Fighting-type Pokemon, is the legendary found. Once evolved, it turns into Urshifu, who was two unique styles depending on the game. Shield sees a Single Strike Style that is Fighting/Dark-type and Sword has Rapid Strike Style which is Water/Fighting-type. A Gigantamax form is also found with a different G-Max move. It can participate in online competitions.

Pokemon Direct

  • All 3 starter’s final evolutions will be able to Gigantamax.
  • New fashion items and bike customizations.
  • In The Crown Tundra, Pokemon that were not in Galar could be found.
  • You become a part of a rescue team to find missing Pokemon.
  • Calyrex, is the legendary creature and is a Psychic/Grass-type.
  • A co-op mode can be found in The Crown Tundra.
  • Almost all of the legendaries found throughout the series return, such as Lunala, Solagleo, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Zapdos, Yveltan, Kyogre, and many more.

Pokemon Direct

  • 200 new and returning Pokemon are set to make an appearance.
  • Galarian-types of these are going to be found.
  • 100+ character customizations are on the way.
  • The expansion pass retails at $29.99.

Finally, the company unveiled Pokemon Home and what it entails. It is planned to launch in February and lets users transfer between Bank and Home in order for favorite monsters to appear in both Sword and Shield. 

Pokemon Sword and Shield are currently available to own on the Nintendo Switch.