Expansion Pass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRUWgM31BRQ

they did it, the absolute madmen
200 new (old) Pokémon being added as post-release paid content

two expansions:
The Isle of Armour
The Crown Tundra

https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/dlcpokemon.shtml
I kind of like the new bear guy when he evolves
the other thing is terrible

https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/dlcgalarianforms.shtml
The Crown Tundra features Galarian Regis and Galarian legendary birds
We're also getting Galarian Slowpoke right now, Slowbro with The Isle of Armour, and Slowking with The Crown Tundra

https://www.serebii.net/swordshield/expansionreturning.shtml
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LEGENDARIES

more than likely going to end up buying this ($30 though is steep)

I think the Pokémon being added are available without paying? I read something to that effect anyway. They were always gonna be added post-launch, so it's fuckin baffling that they didn't just like... come out and say that months ago.

It seems like better value than a straight up third instalment would have been, so I can't complain too much. Will wait to see a bit more before I pay for either add-on myself, though.

There have been too many legendaries since like Gen 4 desu so I won't be surprised when we get like 15 more this generation. Plus each new legendary adds like another 6 months to Pokémon Go's lifespan so I guess there's that now too.

Galarian Slowpoke is an adorable little idiot who I'm sure I will love intensely when I catch one.

Waiting for the content to actually come out is the #1 rule for all these season passes. Like, I want to play as all four characters in the Smash Ultimate fighters pass so far, but I'm waiting for the last character before I put any money into it. I refuse to make the same mistake I did with Saints Row the Third.
I'm hoping that these two expansions have those minor-league gyms that Game Freak talked about, or something. I don't want it if it's just another wild area or just a gauntlet of legendaries.

I liked legendaries better when they were just "check out these cool birds you can find", rather than "this is YVELTAL THE EMBODIMENT OF DEATH".

A couple bonus gyms would be nice, definitely. I'd be interested in how they'd go about incorporating them, but it could definitely work and given that we know they're out there, it'd be kind of weird if they didn't feature. Honestly, looking back now, the original statement about them seems like so much of a tease for future DLC/expansion gyms that I'd be amazed if they didn't show up. Hell, have Sordward and Shielbert get a gym each, they deserve it. Probably.

it's going to take a heck of a lot to justify me spending $30 for this. or is it $30 each for $60 total?

I think the new regis are cool, but I never really got into the regis originally. new legendary birds are hit or miss. I feel conflicted about this since Gamefreak tries to be using this to fix the initial problems and complaints about the game, but the price point for this seems kinda scummy. Could be fine if the new places are rather expansive, but I don't have high hopes.

If I do get it though, I am very happy with my Intelleon choice. that gigantamax intelleon is stellar

It's $30 for both, together. (but if you have both Sword and Shield, you have to buy the expansion pass twice)

I dunno if it's as simple as Gamefreak just trying to use this to patch up the original complaints. Most likely, this was the plan from the start, and while I'm sure some stuff will be patched alongside the DLC releasing, the DLC releases themselves are probably pretty close to whatever strategy they had when the main game was still in development.


The biggest issue is almost definitely the communication. If they'd just been transparent from the start about having a plan for both future areas and more pre-Gen 8 Pokémon being added post-launch... it definitely wouldn't kill all the backlash, but it'd certainly clear up some of the main issues. But I dunno, I guess it's the Nintendo way for everything to have its specific announcement dates and to be kept tightly under wraps until then.

I do agree that a lot rides on how much content is included in the new areas, though. It's a risky strategy to bring into a series like the Pokémon games, especially springing it out of nowhere like they have. It's difficult to judge right now, but there's nothing yet that's keeping me from hoping for the best.