Pokemon SwordandPokemon Shieldhave introduced several “firsts” into thePokemonfranchise. They are the first main-line games to feature open world mechanics, they introduced Dynamax, and they introduced paid DLC as opposed to a “definitive” new version of the games, like previous generations had.
With the introduction of DLC, Game Freak has opened up a new possibility for this generation of Pokemon: a continually evolving narrative and region that isexpanded with new DLCs. With this model, these two games could potentially go on for some time, at least until the next main installment in the core games is released.
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Isle of Armor Changes
The Isle of Armor was Game Freak’s first venture into the uncharted territory ofPokemonDLC, and it was generally seen as a success. While the story was on the short side of things, the Isle of Armor added a fair amount of content toPokemon SwordandPokemon Shield.In addition to the relatively short but well-handled campaign, players also gained access to the Isle of Armor “region” of the map. This area is essentially one large Wild Area, which is great for those who enjoy wandering around and seeing other trainers while out catching new Pokemon or participating in Raids.
Speaking of catching Pokemon, the Isle of Armor DLC also added a bunch of returning Pokemon from previous generations, as well as a couple new Pokemon and Galarian Forms. Generally speaking, the Isle of Armor added a lot of great features that only enhanced theSwordandShieldexperience, and there is yet another DLC on the horizon as well: The Crown Tundra.
What We Know About The Crown Tundra
Game Freak has yet to announce a ton of concrete details regarding The Crown Tundra yet, but there are some key features that have been announced. Unlike the tropical beach setting of the Isle of Armor, The Crown Tundra takes place in snowy mountains Northeast of the Galar region. The theme of the DLC revolves around exploration and discovery, and will feature a massive number of returning Legendary Pokemon that will be a part of thenew co-op game modecoming with the DLC. Nearly every Legendary Pokemon from previous generations is coming back with this new game mode, though we’re still waiting to see if previous Mythical Pokemon will be making a return as well.
In addition to these returning Legendary Pokemon, there are also two new Regis, a new Legendary Pokemon called Calyrex, andGalarian forms for the three Legendary Birds of Kanto. It’s clear that Legendary Pokemon are a big focus in this DLC, but outside of that the main plot is unknown and will likely remain mostly a mystery until the DLC launches in the Fall. It’s clear that Game Freak is looking to bring new environments with each DLC, and differing the theme with every installment as well. If this is the case, then Game Freak may still have a lot of options for new future DLCs as well.
Adopting a DLC Model
If Game Freak were to adopt a larger DLC model forSwordandShield(at least until the next mainline game is complete), itcould learn a lot from a game that is arguably a polar opposite toPokemon:Destiny 2. While theDestinyfranchise has had its ups and downs over the years, Bungie has been honing in on a seasonal DLC model that has allowed them to keep their game alive longer than most games. Throughout a year inDestiny 2, there are a few seasons (depending on development schedule, it could be anywhere around 2-3 seasons), and at some point within a year Bungie will release a larger, more in-depth expansion that brings much more content than a seasonal DLC would.Destiny 2is currently in the midst of a new season that is fairly well-received by the fanbase, and it has its next major expansion (which was recently delayeddue to COVID-19 and working from home) coming this November.
If Game Freak were to adopt a similar model toDestiny 2,as an example, then perhaps the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLCs would be similar to the smaller, seasonal DLCs which could then lead to a larger, more expansive, DLC in the future after the Expansion Pass is complete. Otherwise Game Freak could always do a second Expansion Pass after the first one wraps up and continue to do smaller DLCs until the next game launches - or until therumoredDiamondandPearlremakesare finished.
Future Expansions and Ideas
If Game Freak were to get adventurous, it could try to add an entirely new (or returning) region toSwordandShieldas part of a larger expansion.Every region in thePokemonuniverse is based geographically on somewhere on Earth, and the Galar region is based on the United Kingdom. The closest region so far (in terms of Earth distance) would be Kalos, as it is based off of France.Pokemon XandYdid not receive a large amount of love early on, so perhaps anXYDLC forSwordandShieldcould bring more love to the region of Kalos. The alternative could be to introduce an entirely new region adjacent to Galar based on Eastern Europe, as the remaining existing regions are either based on New York (Unova Region), Hawaii (Alola), or Japan (literally all other main game regions).
Ideally long-time fans ultimately want every Pokemon that was cut fromSwordandShieldadded back into the games in some way, so adding another region that has access to these Pokemon would be ideal. Both the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra feature a plethora of returning Pokemon - though theCrown Tundra’s returning Pokemonhave not yet officially been confirmed but were found through a datamine.Pokemon XandYfeatured a decent amount of unobtainablePokemonat the time, but the available Pokemon can easily be updated and written off in-game somehow. But whether it’s a return to Kalos or a journey to a new region, a larger DLC may be whatSwordandShieldneeds to keep itself afloat until the next main game is ready.
DLC andPokemonare a new pairing that many are still getting used to. There is no precedent for how Game Freak can and will handle DLC outside of what we have seen from the Isle of Armor and what has been shown for The Crown Tundra so far, so it’s unclear if Game Freak will continue this model going forward after The Crown Tundra, or if it will cease development forSwordandShieldafter it’s all over. If Game Freak were to continue to supportSwordandShieldwith DLC, it could be a great new way for them to introduce returning Pokemon - and maybe even returning regions - to the game. However, only time will tell what Game Freak has in store for the future ofSwordandShield.
Pokemon SwordandPokemon Shieldare available now for Nintendo Switch.
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