Pokémon Sword & Shield: Where It Should Go From Here

What’s Next For Pokémon Sword And Shield?

The two expansions seem set to further the game’s goal of adding new features and addressing some of the problems players have had (the rumoured Hidden Ability capsule will save a lot of Max Raid hunting if it turns out to be real).

The Isle of Armor has already done so to an extent, with new convenient NPCs to remove EVs and so on, more customisation options and a greater array of Pokémon. In terms of the actual story available in the first expansion, though, it only offered a few bonus hours of content.

The Crown Tundra isn’t likely to be radically different in that regard, with the major addition being the new Pokémon and the entirely new metagame they’ll usher in. There can be no question of completely overhauling key shortcomings now, but maybe this is the direction the series is taking, an increased focus on the competitive side of things?

There's also the huge, absurd, gigantic (for three turns) elephant in the room: the Dynamax/Gigantamax mechanic, which is central to how the game is played. Will it return? Mega Evolution and Z-moves haven't so far, suggesting they may be more gimmick than battle mechanic worth bringing forward.

Just recently, too, the most-used Pokémon in competitive play has been banned from use in Ranked Battles (singles and doubles), which demonstrates again that Game Freak want to push competitive play and shaking up the metagame.