Game Freak revealed last week that it will be releasing two DLC packs for Pokémon Sword and Shield later this year — The Isle of Armor this summer, and then The Crown Tundra in the fall. This is an alternative to the third version of its games that is normally released a short while after the first two, and has been welcomed by many Pokémon fans.
Replacing the third game model, which is often seen as a cash grab, is just one of the reasons Game Freak should be praised for its DLC plans. What those third games didn't tend to do is offer players brand new areas to explore. They were mainly focused on bringing the unique elements of games one and two together on game three. Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra will be about so much more than that.
Give Us More To Explore
The main focus of the two expansion packs will be the new areas that they bring to Sword and Shield. Trainers will be able to explore never before seen parts of Galar, something the game desperately needed as most players have already combed every inch of the current map. The new regions will apparently be similar to the Wild Area in size, and since this has been one of the most popular parts of Sword and Shield, that can only be a good thing.
Introducing new regions to the games gives Game Freak the opportunity to add new Pokémon that can't be found anywhere else in the Galar region. That allows for two things — the addition of brand new Pokémon trainers, and the reintroduction of Pokémon cut from games in the franchise. However, the best part is that trainers who don't purchase the DLC will still be able to get their hands on the added Pokémon, both new and old. This can be done by trading with trainers who do have the DLC and have caught the additional Pokémon.
Pokémon Won't Be Beat On Price
Chances are most players invested in Sword and Shield will choose to buy the DLC, considering the price point. $30 might seem like a lot of money on the surface for what is merely additional content for a game you've already paid for, but consider how much extra you'll be getting should you fork out for it. As expansion passes go, between the new regions and new Pokémon, Sword and Shield's DLC sounds as if it is going to be pretty good value for money.
What's more, we don't even know everything included in the packs just yet. More than 200 additional Pokémon have been promised, but not even half of them have been announced. There's also little-to-no information on whether the packs will include new gyms, tasks, and elements of the overall story. Personally, we think Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra are already worth $30, yet there is still more news pertaining to what they'll be made up of to be revealed. Watch and learn video game developers, if you need help on what a DLC expansion pass should look like, look no further than what Game Freak is doing via Sword and Shield.