The Pokémon Company and video game developer Game Freak have announced two new Pokémon games for Nintendo Switch.
In a video announcement, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company Tzunekazu Ishihara introduced Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, a pair of all-new entries in their main series of Pokemon role-playing games for Nintendo’s latest console.
Junichi Masuda, producer of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield at Game Freak, said that while they are still hard at work on the development of the two games, they are confident that these games will get any player fired up and excited. “[They’re] for the veteran Pokémon trainers who have experienced so many adventures with us up until now, for the new trainers who held Pokéball for the first time in the Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu game or the Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee game, and for all those out there looking to become Pokémon trainers for the first time,” said Masuda of the soon-to-be released games.
Since Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are new entries, both games will take place in a brand new region, and that region is called Galar. As described by Shigeru Ohmori, director of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, Galar is an expansive region made up of different types of environment: idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forests, vast plains, and craggy, snow-covered mountains.
Just like any other region, Galar houses various gyms where players can train their Pokémon and duel against other Pokémon trainers to get the enviable and admirable title of champion.
In addition to a new region, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield also feature three new starter Pokémon, namely Grookee, Scorbunny, and Sobble. Grookey is a mischievous chimp Pokémon that is full of boundless curiosity. Scorbunny, meanwhile, is a rabbit Pokémon that is always bursting with energy. And lastly, Sobble is a timid water Lizard Pokémon that shoots out attacks as it hides itself in the water.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be released simultaneously worldwide in late 2019.