Pokémon Sword and Shield
In connection with the upcoming release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, The Pokémon Company recently revealed the closure of many of the online modes present until now within Pokémon Sword and Shield. This will all happen starting November 1st, with the removal of the news about the Wilds and the ranked seasons in the Battle Stadium from the games.
Serebii Update: Details have been released for future online connectivity in Pokémon Sword & Shield from November 1st 2022. Most features will remain but some will no longer be updated.
Details @ https://t.co/gDbXkIa6cr pic.twitter.com/SQaK9Xgl0P
- Serebii. net (@SerebiiNet) October 14, 2022
Recalling how at its launch, in the course of 2019, Pokémon Sword and Shield had introduced a lot of news for fans of the series (such as the 'open world in the wilderness, for example), is now preparing for a consequent and progressive closure in view of the future. After three years, in fact, it would seem that Game Freak is preparing the ground for the next chapters of the franchise, leaving everything else behind.| ); }
It seems that with the progressive disappearance of these online modes, the only choice for a competition, whether ranked or friendly, will become Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, with their own brand new Battle Stadium. Such a choice is not entirely unexpected in a market that is always looking at the next upcoming title, so lovers of the most competitive Pokémon Sword and Shield in the coming months will have to look towards the new adventures on the market.
Pokémon Sword & Shield Announces End Of (Some) Online Features
© Provided by ScreenRantThe Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Sword and Shield will have some of their online features disabled next month. This is to coincide with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launching in November and the focus shifting to the Paldea region and the Gen 9 games, which will host the next era of the competitive battling scene.
The Nintendo Switch is the first Nintendo system to require a paid subscription for its online multiplayer services. The first question a lot of people asked when Nintendo Switch Online was announced was whether it would be needed for the Pokémon video games. This was confirmed with the Pokémon Let's Go games, along with the disappointing reveal that the Pokémon games also couldn't benefit from cloud saves on Nintendo Switch, which was also an issue with Animal Crossing: New Horizons not supporting cloud saves. Pokémon Sword and Shield require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for their online services, but local multiplayer does not require them.
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The impending arrival of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet means that the time has come for the Galar region to stop receiving online support. According to Serebii on Twitter, The Pokémon Company is disabling several online features in Pokémon Sword and Shield on November 1, a few weeks before the arrival of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. There will be no more Wild Area updates after a final one that will add creatures that normally cannot be acquired, like Gigantamax Snorlax, the battle stadium will no longer have ranked battles and there will be no more online competitions after Pokémon Sword and Shield's Ultimate Finale competition at the end of October.
Pokémon Sword and Shield will retain some of their online features, with Friendly Competitions still being available. The Y-Comm features will also stick around, so online trading, surprise trades, and link battles will remain for the near future, which are the features that the average Pokémon Sword and Shield players will use. It's likely that these features will remain active for a long time, especially as people are now paying for Nintendo's online services.
It's no surprise that Pokémon Sword and Shield's competitive battling and Wild Area updates are coming to an end. The Pokémon Company is switching focus to the Paldea region, with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Terastal battle gimmick taking over from Dynamaxing. The Galar region had a good run, with Pokémon Sword and Shield being some of the best-selling games in the series, and it's likely that many people will still be hanging out in the Wild Area for years to come.
Next: Every Way Pokémon's Wild Area Is Better Than The Safari ZoneSource: Serebii/Twitter