Latest Pokémon Direct reveals new features, Pokémon and release date for Sword and Shield

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The Pokémon Company and Game Freak today shared new information on Sword and Shield, the next set of mainline Pokémon titles.

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by Liam Andrews

@pass_controller

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Fans were given a more in-depth look at new features, gameplay and new ‘mon in the 16-minute video. Sword and Shield are set in the Galar region, where industrial areas and towns are separated by swathes of countryside, known as Wild Areas, in which players are free to explore. Different Pokémon can be seen wandering around these areas depending on the weather and environment.

Some of the new creatures players will come across are Wooloo, a sheep Pokémon, Gossifleur, a flowering Pokémon, and Drednaw, a bite Pokémon.

​There was also an armoured crow Pokémon called Corviknight, which players can use to fast-travel to towns they’ve already visited.

One of the major new features revealed during the stream was the Dynamax ability, a new power that lets players temporarily transform their Pokémon into super powered giants.

Like Sun and Moon’s Z moves, players can only use this ability once per battle, with any Dynamaxed Pokémon reverting back to its regular form after three moves.

Wild Dynamax Pokémon will retain their larger forms throughout encounters, however, with players able to team up with three other friends to take them down in new raid-like battles. Max Raid Battles can be played either online or via the Switch’s local wireless connectivity.

Dynamax Pokémon also make an appearance during Gym battles, which return to the series following their absence in Sun and Moon.

Finally, we got a glimpse of the regions’ new legendary Pokémon – Zacian and Zamazenta – one of which carries a huge sword in its teeth.

​Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield release 15 November on Nintendo Switch.

What did you think of the latest Pokémon Direct? Let us know below or over in the forums.

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