While players may only end up using a handful of Pokemon over the course of a run throughSwordandShield, collecting as many Pokemon as possible is part of the fun of the series. But where’s a player going to keep all of these pocket monsters? That’s wherePokemon Homecomes in.
A cloud storage hub for Pokemon where all the critters players have collected can live in one place, Pokemon Home will allow players to store Pokemon they have collected during their travels. Not only will Home accept Pokemon fromSwordandShield, but also fromLet’s Go PikachuandEevee, as well as any Pokemon stored in a player’s Pokemon Bank, the 3DS cloud storage service. Nintendo will soon add compatibility withPokemon GOas well. ThePokemon Homepricing structure was revealed last month for the service, with a free “Basic” tier, and a “Premium” tier that sits at $15.99 for the year (with monthly options also available).
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After announcing the servicejust before E3 last year, at long last it has now gone live. Pokemon Home requires 707MB of storage space to install. With the service now live, players will also be given one month free to test it out before being having to make a decision as to which tier they would like to go with. The mobile app is also now available for iOS and Android. On the app, players will be able to trade Pokemon, receive mystery gifts, check battle data, and readPokemonrelated news.
One thing Nintendoclarified when it announced the servicewas that players should keep in mind is that only Pokemon found in the Galar Region will be transferable intoSwordandShieldfrom the Pokemon Home service. In order to not have to completely re-balance the game to account for non-Galar Region Pokemon, entering the game through the Pokemon Home service, Pokemon uploaded to Home that are incompatible withSwordandShieldwill not be transferable into the game.
The move to eliminate the National Dex was met with scorn and frustration from fans, but Nintendo has said that they will be introducing some Pokemon who didn’t make the initial cut back intoSword and Shieldsoon.Through an unusual hack, some of these Pokemon may already be appearing in the game, something Nintendo is likely not pleased to see.
Pokemon SwordandShieldhas seen its share of negative attention for some of the decisions made by developer Game Freak. Trying to shake up some elements of a franchise that so many fans hold dearly is bound to invite some backlash. The company is not giving up on the game though. With Pokemon Home, players will be able to bring their own personal Pokedex with them into the Switch and mobile environment. Couple this with the upcoming DLCIsle of ArmorandCrown Tundraand 2020 is looking to be a good year forSword & Shield.
ThePokemon Homecloud service is available now for Switch and mobile devices.
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