<s>
and	O
are	O
2019	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
developed	O
by	O
Game	O
Freak	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
The	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Company	O
and	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
the	O
first	O
installments	O
in	O
the	O
eighth	O
generation	O
of	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
video	O
game	O
series	O
and	O
the	O
second	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
following	O
Pokémon	B-Application
:	I-Application
Let	I-Application
's	I-Application
Go	I-Application
,	I-Application
Pikachu	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
and	O
Let	O
's	O
Go	O
,	O
Eevee	O
!,	O
released	O
on	O
a	O
home	B-Device
game	I-Device
console	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
teased	O
at	O
E3	O
2017	O
and	O
announced	O
in	O
February	O
2019	O
,	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
and	I-Application
Shield	I-Application
were	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
received	O
two	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
expansion	O
packs	O
through	O
an	O
expansion	O
pass	O
with	O
The	B-Application
Isle	I-Application
of	I-Application
Armor	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
June	O
2020	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Crown	I-Application
Tundra	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
concept	O
planning	O
began	O
immediately	O
following	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sun	I-Application
and	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
in	O
2016	O
,	O
while	O
full	O
production	O
began	O
a	O
year	O
later	O
in	O
September	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
they	O
chronicle	O
the	O
journey	O
of	O
a	O
young	O
Pokémon	B-Application
trainer	O
aiming	O
to	O
become	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Champion	O
,	O
this	O
time	O
in	O
the	O
new	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
Great	O
Britain	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
objective	O
of	O
the	O
games	O
is	O
to	O
dethrone	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
League	O
Champion	O
,	O
Leon	B-Application
,	O
in	O
a	O
tournament	O
that	O
various	O
other	O
Gym	O
Leaders	O
and	O
rivals	O
also	O
take	O
part	O
in	O
,	O
whilst	O
dealing	O
with	O
Team	O
Yell	O
and	O
a	O
nefarious	O
conspiracy	O
within	O
the	O
League	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
introduce	O
81	O
new	O
Pokémon	B-Application
-	O
89	O
in	O
total	O
including	O
later	O
DLCs	B-Protocol
-	O
alongside	O
13	O
regional	O
forms	O
of	O
pre-existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
;	O
Dynamaxing	O
,	O
which	O
increases	O
the	O
size	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
under	O
certain	O
conditions	O
;	O
Gigantamaxing	O
,	O
which	O
additionally	O
changes	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
certain	O
Pokémon	B-Application
;	O
and	O
the	O
Wild	O
Area	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
a	O
large	O
,	O
open-world	O
area	O
with	O
free	O
camera	O
movement	O
that	O
contains	O
co-op	O
raid	B-Protocol
battles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
games	O
also	O
reintroduce	O
features	O
previously	O
seen	O
in	O
Sun	O
and	O
Moon	O
and	O
Let	B-Application
's	I-Application
Go	I-Application
,	I-Application
Pikachu	I-Application
!	O
</s>
<s>
and	O
Let	O
's	O
Go	O
,	O
Eevee	O
!,	O
such	O
as	O
regional	O
forms	O
and	O
roaming	O
Pokémon	B-Application
depicted	O
in	O
the	O
overworld	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
not	O
include	O
all	O
pre-existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
from	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
and	O
onward	O
was	O
announced	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
met	O
with	O
backlash	O
from	O
a	O
segment	O
of	O
the	O
fan	O
community	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
a	O
controversy	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
Dexit	O
"	O
(	O
referencing	O
the	O
Pokédex	O
and	O
Brexit	O
)	O
and	O
calls	O
for	O
a	O
boycott	O
months	O
ahead	O
of	O
their	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
December	O
2022	O
,	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
had	O
sold	O
more	O
than	O
25.68	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
,	O
becoming	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
games	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
and	O
are	O
currently	O
the	O
fifth-best-selling	O
games	O
on	O
the	O
Switch	O
and	O
second-best-selling	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pokémon	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
and	I-Application
Shield	I-Application
are	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
with	O
adventure	O
elements	O
and	O
in	O
most	O
cases	O
are	O
presented	O
in	O
a	O
fixed	O
camera	O
,	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
;	O
in	O
certain	O
instances	O
free	O
camera	O
movement	O
is	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
controls	O
a	O
young	O
trainer	O
who	O
goes	O
on	O
a	O
quest	O
to	O
catch	O
and	O
train	O
creatures	O
known	O
as	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
win	O
battles	O
against	O
other	O
trainers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
defeating	O
opposing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
in	O
turn-based	O
battles	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
Pokémon	B-Application
gains	O
experience	O
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
level	O
up	O
and	O
increase	O
their	O
battle	O
statistics	O
,	O
learn	O
new	O
battle	O
techniques	O
and	O
in	O
some	O
cases	O
,	O
evolve	O
into	O
more	O
powerful	O
Pokémon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
capture	O
wild	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
found	O
during	O
wild	O
encounters	O
,	O
by	O
weakening	O
them	O
in	O
battle	O
and	O
catching	O
them	O
with	O
Poké	O
Balls	O
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
be	O
added	O
to	O
their	O
party	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
are	O
also	O
able	O
to	O
battle	O
and	O
trade	O
Pokémon	B-Application
with	O
other	O
human	O
players	O
using	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
connectivity	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
certain	O
Pokémon	B-Application
are	O
only	O
obtainable	O
in	O
either	O
Sword	O
or	O
Shield	O
,	O
with	O
players	O
encouraged	O
to	O
trade	O
with	O
others	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
obtain	O
all	O
Pokémon	B-Application
from	O
both	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
all	O
regions	O
,	O
Galar	B-Application
consists	O
of	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
cities	O
and	O
towns	O
connected	O
by	O
"	O
Routes	O
"	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
there	O
is	O
also	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
area	O
in	O
the	O
center	O
of	O
the	O
region	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Wild	O
Area	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
concept	O
new	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Random	O
encounters	O
with	O
wild	O
Pokémon	B-Application
may	O
take	O
place	O
in	O
tall	O
grass	O
or	O
in	O
bodies	O
of	O
water	O
along	O
routes	O
or	O
in	O
the	O
Wild	O
Area	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wild	O
Pokémon	B-Application
may	O
also	O
be	O
encountered	O
outside	O
of	O
tall	O
grass	O
and	O
elsewhere	O
in	O
the	O
environment	O
and	O
may	O
chase	O
or	O
run	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
player	O
depending	O
on	O
their	O
disposition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
driving	O
force	O
bringing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
travel	O
around	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
is	O
to	O
take	O
part	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Gym	O
Challenge	O
"	O
,	O
an	O
open-tournament	O
to	O
decide	O
the	O
greatest	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Trainer	O
in	O
the	O
region	O
,	O
dubbed	O
the	O
Champion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eight	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
cities	O
and	O
towns	O
are	O
homes	O
to	O
stadiums	B-Application
housing	O
"	O
Gym	O
Leaders	O
"	O
,	O
powerful	O
Trainers	O
specializing	O
in	O
certain	O
types	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
;	O
beating	O
a	O
Gym	O
Leader	O
gives	O
the	O
player	O
a	O
"	O
Badge	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
emerging	O
victorious	O
the	O
player	O
will	O
face	O
the	O
Champion	O
of	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
,	O
Leon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
include	O
cooperative	O
raid	B-Protocol
encounters	O
,	O
the	O
Wild	O
Area	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Dynamaxing	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Gigantamaxing	O
"	O
,	O
both	O
of	O
which	O
temporarily	O
allow	O
Pokémon	B-Application
to	O
grow	O
to	O
larger	O
sizes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Wild	O
Area	O
is	O
a	O
fully	O
explorable	O
open	O
world	O
area	O
with	O
free	O
camera	O
movement	O
and	O
dynamic	O
weather	O
,	O
which	O
has	O
implications	O
on	O
which	O
Pokémon	B-Application
species	O
appear	O
at	O
a	O
given	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gigantamaxing	O
is	O
limited	O
to	O
select	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
feature	O
different	O
forms	O
from	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
's	O
normal	O
appearance	O
and	O
also	O
giving	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
an	O
exclusive	O
G-Max	O
Move	O
that	O
Dynamax	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
cannot	O
used	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
mechanic	O
called	O
"	O
Poké	O
Jobs	O
"	O
tasks	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
Pokémon	B-Application
with	O
completing	O
requests	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
assisting	O
in	O
construction	O
or	O
cooking	O
,	O
to	O
gain	O
experience	O
or	O
rare	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pokémon	B-Application
Gyms	O
make	O
a	O
return	O
after	O
being	O
absent	O
in	O
Sun	O
,	O
Moon	O
,	O
Ultra	B-Application
Sun	I-Application
and	I-Application
Ultra	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
is	O
typical	O
with	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
games	O
have	O
version-exclusive	O
content	O
such	O
as	O
certain	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
second	O
time	O
,	O
Gym	O
Leaders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
'	O
Camp	O
 '	O
mode	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
interact	O
and	O
play	O
with	O
their	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
cook	O
different	O
types	O
of	O
curry	O
to	O
provide	O
them	O
with	O
bonuses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
most	O
instances	O
,	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
box	O
can	O
now	O
be	O
accessed	O
outside	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Centers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
with	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sun	I-Application
and	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
,	O
Pokémon	B-Application
previously	O
introduced	O
in	O
older	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Weezing	O
,	O
gain	O
regional	O
Galarian	O
Forms	O
with	O
new	O
typings	O
,	O
stats	O
and	O
appearances	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
Linoone	O
and	O
Meowth	O
,	O
even	O
gain	O
regional	O
evolutions	O
,	O
a	O
first	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Internet	O
connectivity	O
to	O
other	O
players	O
is	O
supported	O
for	O
functionality	O
such	O
as	O
trades	O
,	O
battles	O
,	O
and	O
encountering	O
other	O
trainers	O
in	O
the	O
Wild	O
Area	O
;	O
these	O
functions	O
however	O
require	O
a	O
paid	O
subscription	O
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Online	I-Application
subscription	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
are	O
also	O
compatible	O
with	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Home	I-Application
,	O
an	O
online	O
cloud	O
storage	O
service	O
for	O
storing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Supported	O
Pokémon	B-Application
can	O
be	O
transferred	O
to	O
the	O
games	O
from	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
app	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Bank	O
,	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Go	O
and	O
Pokémon	B-Application
:	I-Application
Let	I-Application
's	I-Application
Go	I-Application
,	I-Application
Pikachu	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
and	O
Let	B-Application
's	I-Application
Go	I-Application
,	I-Application
Eevee	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
via	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Home	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Home	O
is	O
the	O
only	O
path	O
to	O
bringing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
from	O
previous	O
games	O
into	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
take	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
,	O
a	O
large	O
,	O
narrow	O
expanse	O
of	O
land	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
many	O
regions	O
in	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
lie	O
countryside	O
towns	O
featuring	O
cottages	O
and	O
Victorian	O
architecture	O
to	O
the	O
south	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
towns	O
and	O
cities	O
feature	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Gyms	O
stylized	O
like	O
football	O
stadiums	B-Application
,	O
which	O
show	O
off	O
both	O
Dynamaxing	O
and	O
Gigantamaxing	O
,	O
implemented	O
by	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
Pokémon	B-Application
League	O
Chairman	O
,	O
Rose	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Encompassing	O
a	O
large	O
portion	O
of	O
the	O
south-central	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
region	O
is	O
the	O
Wild	O
Area	O
,	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
area	O
with	O
numerous	O
roaming	O
Pokémon	B-Application
species	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
many	O
previous	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
franchise	O
,	O
players	O
embark	O
on	O
a	O
journey	O
across	O
the	O
region	O
to	O
become	O
the	O
strongest	O
trainer	O
,	O
fighting	O
eight	O
powerful	O
trainers	O
called	O
Gym	O
Leaders	O
and	O
eventually	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
Champion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
and	O
their	O
best	O
friend	O
,	O
Hop	O
,	O
receive	O
one	O
of	O
three	O
starter	O
Pokémon	B-Application
:	O
Grookey	O
,	O
Scorbunny	O
,	O
or	O
Sobble	O
from	O
Leon	B-Application
,	O
Champion	O
of	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
and	O
Hop	O
's	O
older	O
brother	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Afterward	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
explore	O
a	O
forest	O
called	O
the	O
Slumbering	O
Weald	O
but	O
are	O
driven	O
off	O
by	O
a	O
powerful	O
Pokémon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
their	O
subsequent	O
visit	O
to	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Professor	O
,	O
Magnolia	O
and	O
her	O
granddaughter	O
Sonia	O
,	O
they	O
convince	O
Leon	B-Application
to	O
endorse	O
them	O
to	O
take	O
part	O
in	O
the	O
Gym	O
Challenge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
also	O
meets	O
Chairman	O
Rose	O
,	O
who	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
endorsing	O
Bede	O
as	O
a	O
Gym	O
Challenger	O
,	O
presides	O
over	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
Pokémon	B-Application
League	O
and	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
main	O
energy	O
company	O
,	O
Macro	O
Cosmos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
their	O
quest	O
continues	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
assists	O
Sonia	O
in	O
her	O
research	O
on	O
two	O
Legendary	O
Pokémon	B-Application
who	O
saved	O
Galar	B-Application
from	O
an	O
ancient	O
crisis	O
called	O
the	O
Darkest	O
Day	O
and	O
deduces	O
that	O
they	O
are	O
the	O
same	O
Pokémon	B-Application
previously	O
encountered	O
in	O
the	O
Slumbering	O
Weald	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
beating	O
the	O
eight	O
Gym	O
Leaders	O
,	O
including	O
Piers	O
,	O
Marnie	O
's	O
older	O
brother	O
and	O
the	O
leader	O
of	O
Team	O
Yell	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
makes	O
their	O
way	O
to	O
Wyndon	O
where	O
they	O
win	O
the	O
Champion	O
's	O
Cup	O
,	O
earning	O
an	O
opportunity	O
to	O
battle	O
Leon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hop	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
then	O
head	O
to	O
a	O
hotel	O
to	O
meet	O
with	O
Leon	B-Application
,	O
but	O
he	O
does	O
not	O
come	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
reach	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
Rose	O
Tower	O
and	O
battle	O
with	O
Rose	O
 '	O
assistant	O
,	O
Oleana	O
,	O
and	O
find	O
Leon	B-Application
who	O
is	O
talking	O
to	O
Rose	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Leon	B-Application
,	O
Hop	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
head	O
home	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
day	O
,	O
before	O
the	O
battle	O
between	O
the	O
player	O
and	O
Leon	B-Application
can	O
commence	O
,	O
Chairman	O
Rose	O
awakens	O
the	O
legendary	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Eternatus	O
in	O
an	O
attempt	O
to	O
harness	O
its	O
power	O
to	O
provide	O
unlimited	O
energy	O
to	O
Galar	B-Application
,	O
purposefully	O
triggering	O
a	O
second	O
Darkest	O
Day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
and	O
Hop	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
Slumbering	O
Weald	O
and	O
secure	O
the	O
aid	O
of	O
the	O
legendary	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
Zacian	O
and	O
Zamazenta	O
,	O
through	O
a	O
sword	O
and	O
shield	O
they	O
find	O
in	O
the	O
ruins	O
,	O
to	O
defeat	O
Chairman	O
Rose	O
and	O
Eternatus	O
,	O
after	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
catches	O
Eternatus	O
and	O
Rose	O
hands	O
himself	O
over	O
to	O
the	O
authorities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
days	O
later	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
faces	O
and	O
defeats	O
Leon	B-Application
in	O
a	O
battle	O
and	O
becomes	O
the	O
new	O
Champion	O
of	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
defeating	O
Leon	B-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
and	O
Hop	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
Slumbering	O
Weald	O
to	O
return	O
Zacian	O
and	O
Zamazenta	O
's	O
artifacts	O
to	O
their	O
rightful	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
also	O
meet	O
Sonia	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
become	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
's	O
new	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Professor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
steal	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
relics	O
and	O
begin	O
forcing	O
innocent	O
Pokémon	B-Application
to	O
Dynamax	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
,	O
Hop	O
,	O
and	O
Piers	O
work	O
with	O
the	O
Gym	O
Leaders	O
to	O
subdue	O
the	O
Dynamax	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
then	O
track	O
down	O
and	O
confront	O
the	O
brothers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
both	O
the	O
player	O
and	O
Hop	O
corners	O
the	O
brothers	O
in	O
the	O
Hammerlocke	O
Power	O
Plant	O
,	O
they	O
then	O
explain	O
why	O
they	O
forced	O
many	O
innocent	O
Pokémon	B-Application
to	O
Dynamax	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
forced	O
innocent	O
Pokémon	B-Application
to	O
Dynamax	O
as	O
experiments	O
on	O
what	O
would	O
happen	O
if	O
Zacian/Zamazenta	O
was	O
to	O
be	O
sprinkled	O
with	O
Galar	B-Application
particles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
brothers	O
 '	O
ultimate	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
reveal	O
the	O
true	O
barbaric	O
and	O
brutish	O
nature	O
of	O
Zacian	O
or	O
Zamazenta	O
,	O
because	O
Sonia	O
thought	O
that	O
the	O
two	O
heroes	O
who	O
stopped	O
the	O
Darkest	O
Day	O
were	O
Pokémon	B-Application
rather	O
than	O
humans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
then	O
are	O
challenged	O
to	O
a	O
battle	O
by	O
the	O
Legendary	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
allowed	O
to	O
catch	O
it	O
,	O
while	O
Hop	O
follows	O
Zamazenta/Zacian	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
Slumbering	O
Weald	O
and	O
calms	O
it	O
down	O
,	O
being	O
chosen	O
by	O
it	O
as	O
its	O
Trainer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
and	O
Hop	O
have	O
a	O
final	O
battle	O
,	O
after	O
which	O
Hop	O
decides	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Professor	O
and	O
becomes	O
Sonia	O
's	O
assistant	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
and	I-Application
Shield	I-Application
began	O
immediately	O
following	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Sun	O
and	O
Moon	O
in	O
the	O
months	O
preceding	O
their	O
release	O
in	O
November	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kazumasa	O
Iwao	O
,	O
director	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Ultra	I-Application
Sun	I-Application
and	I-Application
Ultra	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
later	O
joined	O
the	O
project	O
as	O
planning	O
director	O
and	O
full	O
production	O
started	O
in	O
September	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
ideas	O
the	O
team	O
had	O
was	O
making	O
Pokémon	B-Application
giant	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
could	O
be	O
played	O
on	O
a	O
large	O
screen	O
,	O
thanks	O
to	O
the	O
Switch	O
's	O
ability	O
to	O
connect	O
to	O
a	O
television	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ohmori	O
then	O
thought	O
about	O
having	O
a	O
sword	O
and	O
a	O
shield	O
Pokémon	B-Application
to	O
defeat	O
the	O
giant	O
Pokémon	B-Application
;	O
that	O
's	O
how	O
the	O
games	O
 '	O
titles	O
were	O
decided	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Junichi	O
Masuda	O
estimated	O
the	O
total	O
number	O
of	O
people	O
involved	O
to	O
be	O
50%	O
greater	O
than	O
previous	O
Pokémon	B-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
expressed	O
through	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
's	O
status	O
as	O
the	O
most	O
powerful	O
console	O
to	O
run	O
a	O
Pokémon	B-Application
game	O
,	O
with	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
Dynamaxing	O
,	O
and	O
references	O
to	O
British	O
folklore	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
track	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Toby	O
Fox	O
,	O
best	O
known	O
for	O
being	O
the	O
creator	O
of	O
Undertale	B-Application
as	O
well	O
as	O
Deltarune	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Switch	O
's	O
ability	O
to	O
render	O
larger	O
Pokémon	B-Application
models	O
and	O
better	O
show	O
size	O
differences	O
between	O
species	O
is	O
the	O
root	O
of	O
the	O
Dynamax	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
of	O
"	O
growing	O
and	O
evolving	O
"	O
is	O
a	O
core	O
concept	O
of	O
the	O
games	O
—	O
for	O
both	O
the	O
trainer	O
and	O
their	O
Pokémon	B-Application
—	O
stemming	O
from	O
producer	O
Junichi	O
Masuda	O
and	O
director	O
Shigeru	O
Ohmori	O
's	O
experience	O
with	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
other	O
core	O
Pokémon	B-Application
games	O
,	O
not	O
all	O
existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
species	O
appear	O
or	O
are	O
usable	O
in	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Masuda	O
addressed	O
this	O
as	O
a	O
potential	O
issue	O
in	O
a	O
2018	O
interview	O
with	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
at	O
which	O
point	O
he	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
it	O
does	O
get	O
complicated	O
when	O
you	O
talk	O
about	O
the	O
details	O
and	O
we	O
're	O
still	O
figuring	O
it	O
out	O
,	O
but	O
we	O
do	O
have	O
plans	O
to	O
find	O
ways	O
to	O
let	O
players	O
use	O
their	O
Pokémon	B-Application
in	O
the	O
next	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2019	O
,	O
Masuda	O
explained	O
that	O
the	O
sheer	O
number	O
of	O
species	O
,	O
combined	O
with	O
the	O
need	O
to	O
produce	O
assets	O
relating	O
to	O
new	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Dynamaxing	O
system	O
,	O
preserve	O
game	O
balance	O
,	O
and	O
maintain	O
a	O
degree	O
of	O
quality	O
made	O
it	O
infeasible	O
to	O
include	O
all	O
existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
without	O
extensively	O
lengthening	O
development	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
,	O
only	O
Pokémon	B-Application
that	O
appear	O
within	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
are	O
transferable	O
from	O
previous	O
titles	O
via	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Home	I-Application
with	O
few	O
exceptions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
developers	O
,	O
the	O
higher	O
fidelity	O
models	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
"	O
expressive	O
,	O
"	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
built	O
from	O
the	O
ground	O
up	O
as	O
simply	O
transferring	O
existing	O
ones	O
produced	O
for	O
the	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
platform	O
was	O
not	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Masuda	O
confirmed	O
that	O
all	O
three	O
companies	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
Game	O
Freak	O
,	O
and	O
The	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Company	O
,	O
agreed	O
to	O
cut	O
down	O
the	O
games	O
 '	O
Pokédex	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
were	O
originally	O
teased	O
through	O
a	O
special	O
message	O
by	O
The	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Company	O
president	O
Tsunekazu	O
Ishihara	O
during	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
E3	O
2017	O
presentation	O
,	O
where	O
Ishihara	O
mentioned	O
that	O
Game	O
Freak	O
was	O
working	O
on	O
a	O
new	O
core	O
series	O
Pokémon	B-Application
role-playing	O
game	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
but	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
more	O
than	O
a	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
a	O
press	O
conference	O
held	O
by	O
The	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Company	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
May	O
30	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
Junichi	O
Masuda	O
confirmed	O
that	O
the	O
next	O
Pokémon	B-Application
core	O
series	O
games	O
would	O
release	O
on	O
Switch	O
in	O
the	O
second	O
half	O
of	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ishihara	O
also	O
assured	O
that	O
the	O
then-upcoming	O
titles	O
would	O
not	O
have	O
influences	O
from	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Go	O
like	O
Let	B-Application
's	I-Application
Go	I-Application
,	I-Application
Pikachu	I-Application
!	O
</s>
<s>
and	O
Let	B-Application
's	I-Application
Go	I-Application
,	I-Application
Eevee	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
had	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
introduce	O
many	O
new	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
polished	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
were	O
fully	O
unveiled	O
in	O
a	O
special	O
Nintendo	O
Direct	O
presentation	O
on	O
February	O
27	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
introducing	O
the	O
games	O
 '	O
region	O
and	O
starter	O
Pokémon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
presentation	O
coincided	O
with	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Day	O
,	O
a	O
fan	O
celebration	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
on	O
the	O
anniversary	O
of	O
the	O
Japanese	O
release	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Red	I-Application
and	I-Application
Green	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
second	O
Nintendo	O
Direct	O
about	O
the	O
games	O
was	O
held	O
on	O
June	O
5	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
which	O
revealed	O
some	O
of	O
its	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
including	O
the	O
legendary	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Zacian	O
and	O
Zamazenta	O
,	O
which	O
appear	O
on	O
the	O
box	O
art	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Freak	O
intentionally	O
limited	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
new	O
Pokémon	B-Application
revealed	O
through	O
promotional	O
material	O
to	O
encourage	O
players	O
to	O
discover	O
them	O
in-game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
promotional	O
crossover	O
between	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
and	O
Tetris	B-Application
99	I-Application
occurred	O
from	O
November	O
8	O
–	O
11	O
,	O
during	O
which	O
a	O
limited-time	O
unlockable	O
theme	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
games	O
was	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Ultimate	O
,	O
an	O
online	O
tournament	O
themed	O
around	O
Pokémon	B-Application
was	O
held	O
from	O
November	O
15	O
–	O
18	O
to	O
promote	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
release	O
,	O
while	O
a	O
spirit	O
event	O
occurred	O
from	O
November	O
22	O
–	O
27	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
Pokémon	B-Application
being	O
available	O
as	O
collectible	O
spirits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Direct	O
on	O
January	O
9	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
a	O
pair	O
of	O
expansion	O
packs	O
were	O
announced	O
which	O
were	O
released	O
throughout	O
2020	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
an	O
expansion	O
pass	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
pack	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Isle	I-Application
of	I-Application
Armor	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
17	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
second	O
pack	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Crown	I-Application
Tundra	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
22	O
,	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
packs	O
introduce	O
new	O
Legendary	O
Pokémon	B-Application
such	O
as	O
Kubfu	O
and	O
its	O
evolved	O
forms	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Isle	I-Application
of	I-Application
Armor	I-Application
and	O
Calyrex	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Crown	I-Application
Tundra	I-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
new	O
regional	O
forms	O
for	O
pre-existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
such	O
as	O
Slowpoke	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Between	O
both	O
expansion	O
packs	O
,	O
they	O
add	O
more	O
than	O
200	O
pre-existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
that	O
are	O
n't	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
explorable	O
area	O
introduced	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Isle	I-Application
of	I-Application
Armor	I-Application
draws	O
inspiration	O
from	O
the	O
Isle	O
of	O
Man	O
while	O
the	O
area	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Crown	I-Application
Tundra	I-Application
is	O
based	O
on	O
Scotland	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
decision	O
not	O
to	O
include	O
some	O
pre-existing	O
Pokémon	B-Application
in	O
the	O
games	O
drew	O
criticism	O
from	O
many	O
fans	O
,	O
who	O
referred	O
to	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
Dexit	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
portmanteau	O
of	O
"	O
Pokédex	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Brexit	O
"	O
(	O
tying	O
in	O
with	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
's	O
British	O
theme	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
used	O
the	O
hashtag	O
"	O
#BringBackNationalDex	O
"	O
to	O
discuss	O
the	O
matter	O
on	O
social	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
fans	O
called	O
for	O
the	O
games	O
to	O
be	O
delayed	O
until	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
could	O
be	O
added	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Famitsu	O
,	O
Shigeru	O
Ohmori	O
stated	O
that	O
models	O
for	O
Pokémon	B-Application
appearing	O
in	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
were	O
being	O
made	O
again	O
from	O
the	O
ground	O
up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alex	O
Donaldson	O
of	O
VG247	O
noted	O
that	O
feature	O
creep	O
—	O
where	O
an	O
increase	O
in	O
new	O
features	O
over	O
time	O
may	O
lead	O
to	O
removal	O
of	O
previous	O
ones	O
—	O
had	O
finally	O
reached	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
and	O
long-overlooked	O
design	O
shortcomings	O
of	O
Game	O
Freak	O
were	O
brought	O
to	O
the	O
forefront	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Joe	O
Merrick	O
,	O
the	O
webmaster	O
of	O
fansite	O
Serebii	O
,	O
considered	O
the	O
controversy	O
to	O
have	O
caused	O
the	O
most	O
unrest	O
among	O
Pokémon	B-Application
fans	O
since	O
the	O
troubled	O
launch	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Bank	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
reiterated	O
that	O
the	O
removal	O
of	O
certain	O
Pokémon	B-Application
was	O
a	O
difficult	O
decision	O
to	O
make	O
and	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
available	O
in	O
different	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
future	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
criticism	O
came	O
from	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
data	B-Application
miners	I-Application
discovered	O
that	O
some	O
models	O
and	O
animations	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
games	O
were	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
the	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
games	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
the	O
games	O
being	O
review	O
bombed	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
and	O
the	O
hashtag	O
#GameFreakLied	O
being	O
a	O
trend	O
on	O
Twitter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
announcement	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Isle	I-Application
of	I-Application
Armor	I-Application
&	O
Crown	B-Application
Tundra	I-Application
expansion	O
packs	O
drew	O
further	O
outrage	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
fans	O
believing	O
that	O
the	O
packs	O
should	O
have	O
been	O
free	O
or	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
due	O
to	O
"	O
Game	O
Freak	O
's	O
actions	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
and	I-Application
Pokémon	I-Application
Shield	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
Kallie	O
Plagge	O
also	O
praised	O
the	O
pair	O
for	O
easy-to-understand	O
game	O
systems	O
and	O
a	O
sense	O
of	O
freedom	O
stating	O
,	O
"	O
you	O
're	O
not	O
held	O
back	O
by	O
overly	O
complicated	O
back-end	O
systems	O
or	O
hoops	O
to	O
jump	O
through	O
;	O
from	O
the	O
outset	O
,	O
you	O
can	O
start	O
wandering	O
the	O
Galar	B-Application
region	O
,	O
seeing	O
its	O
new	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
and	O
trying	O
out	O
its	O
new	O
battle	O
strategies	O
with	O
very	O
little	O
in	O
your	O
way.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Tapsell	O
commented	O
"	O
this	O
is	O
a	O
new	O
generation	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
games	O
that	O
promises	O
much	O
,	O
with	O
brilliant	O
new	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
a	O
raft	O
of	O
intricate	O
system-tinkering	O
for	O
long-term	O
fans	O
and	O
a	O
series-first	O
stab	O
at	O
an	O
'	O
open-world	O
'	O
area	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
James	O
Grebey	O
and	O
Tom	O
Philip	O
of	O
GQ	O
also	O
felt	O
somewhat	O
underwhelmed	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
Wild	O
Area	O
but	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
games	O
were	O
"	O
satisfying	O
but	O
pedestrian	O
"	O
and	O
feel	O
like	O
"	O
proof	O
of	O
concept	O
 [ with ] 	O
another	O
stage	O
of	O
evolution	O
left	O
for	O
console	O
Pokémon	B-Application
games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
sold	O
two	O
million	O
copies	O
during	O
their	O
first	O
three	O
days	O
on	O
sale	O
,	O
surpassing	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
By	O
November	O
21	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
Sword	O
and	O
Shield	O
had	O
sold	O
more	O
than	O
six	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
,	O
surpassing	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
By	O
December	O
2022	O
,	O
the	O
games	O
had	O
sold	O
25.68	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
the	O
second-best-selling	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
behind	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Red	I-Application
and	I-Application
Blue	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
+	O
List	O
of	O
awards	O
and	O
nominations	O
for	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
and	I-Application
Pokémon	I-Application
Shield	I-Application
Year	O
Award	O
Category	O
Result	O
2019Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
Best	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
Best	O
Family/Social	O
Game	O
Gamescom	O
Best	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
Best	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Game	O
Titanium	O
Awards	O
Best	O
Family/Social	O
Game	O
2020	O
New	O
York	O
Game	O
Awards	O
Central	O
Park	O
Children	O
's	O
Zoo	O
Award	O
for	O
Best	O
Kids	O
Game	O
Tin	O
Pan	O
Alley	O
Award	O
for	O
Best	O
Music	O
in	O
a	O
Game	O
23rd	O
Annual	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
