'Pokémon Sword and Shield' are getting their first big expansion later this month, bringing new Pokémon and a brand-new area to explore
- The first major expansion for "Pokémon Sword and "Shield" will be arriving on June 17.
- The expansion will be released in two parts, the first of which is called "The Isle of Armor."
- The expansion will bring a new area to the Galar region as well as new trainers to battle, a dojo to train in, and new Pokémon, among other updates.
Pokémon fans have a new expansion to look forward to at the end of June. The first expansion for "Pokémon Sword and Shield," the latest installment in the series which launched for the Switch in November, arrives on June 17.
Game expansions for "Pokémon Sword and Shield" are launching in two parts: "The Isle of Armor" and "The Crown Tundra." The former launches later this month, while the latter will arrive in the fall.
"The Isle of Armor" will bring a new area to the Galar region, where the game takes place, in addition to new Pokémon and a dojo. Details are thin, but players and their Pokémon will be able to take up an apprenticeship with the master of the dojo who specializes in "very particular training styles."
There will also be new trainers to battle, a new rival that will change based on whether you're playing "Sword" or "Shield," and of course, new Pokémon — including new legendary types .
The game's three starter Pokémon will also get the ability to Gigantamax in their final evolution in "The Isle of Armor." "Gigantamax" is a special form only available for certain species of Pokémon in which the Pokémon becomes much stronger and temporarily takes on a new appearance. And as its name implies, Gigantamaxing also causes a Pokémon to grow in size significantly.
"Pokémon Sword and Shield," despite launching less than one year ago, has already become one of the most popular titles for the Switch. More than 17 million copies have been sold to date, making it almost as popular as "Super Mario Odyssey" — which launched during the same year as the Switch in 2017.
Get a closer look at what to expect from "The Isle of Armor" and "The Crown Tundra" in the video below.