When it was announced that Pokemon Sword and Shield was receiving post-launch DLC, many were indubitably shocked. This was such a major break for the franchise, something that hadn't been done before, that everything from Pokemon's future to the shelf life of the current generation was called into question.
With Crown Tundra out now, Pokemon Sword and Shield are doing it again. The DLC expands the endgame content of the latest generation, allowing fans to partake in Dynamax adventures and collect legendaries, both new and old. However, it does something that only one other game has done before: put two generational gimmicks into one entry. And, while mostly anecdotal, it could add new evidence to the rumored Kalos DLC for Pokemon Sword and Shield.
The Crown Tundra and The Ultra Beasts
Recent generations have also introduced new story and/or gameplay gimmicks to the game. Some of these were simply new, limited features like co-op play in Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and champion defense in Pokemon Sun and Moon. Some of these, like double battles, became franchise mainstays, but the biggest gimmicks are usually region-locked, or at the very least, generation-locked.
For example, the generation 6 Pokemon X and Y introduced Mega Evolutions, something that many initially criticized as too similar to Digimon but also something that quickly grew on a lot of people. More Mega Evolutions are still requested to this day, and many expected generation 7 to double down on this. Instead, it swiped it away for the most part. The gen-7 Pokemon Sun and Moon introduced Ultra Beasts, essentially extradimensional Pokemon with strange powers such as fusing with humans in the case of Lusamine-Nihilego.
Pokemon Sun and Moon DID include Mega Evolution, but to little consequence. Mega Stones could be found after completing Sun and Moon, with this new evolution type feeling tacked-on. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire also introduce Primal Reversions, which are essentially just special mega evolutions for Groudon and Kyogre, and onto Gen 8 the story advanced.
Pokemon Sword and Shield effectively did away with all of this. Mega Evolution isn't possible, and prior to Crown Tundra, Ultra Beasts were irrelevant. However, what Pokemon Sword and Shield does with Ultra Beasts is far better than what Sun and Moon did with Mega Evolutions.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Galarian Birds, Regi Titans, and Ultra Beasts
As aforementioned, Mega Evolutions in Sun and Moon are essentially an afterthought, but Pokemon Sword and Shield makes Ultra Beasts unique encounters. It makes them feel like genuine endgame content equivalent to Dynamax adventures, catching the Galarian bird forms of Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno, and tracking down Pokemon Sword and Shield's Regi Titans. In fact, to unlock Ultra Beasts, players have to catch all of the Galarian Birds and Regis to receive this legendary clue.
Furthermore, as the Crown Tundra is the home of many legendary Pokemon, it puts the Ultra Beasts on equal footing with their unique role. Pokemon Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra DLC respects the past while carving out the future, and this bodes well for the Kalos DLC rumors.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Ultra Beasts Now, Mega Evolutions Soon?
For those who may be unfamiliar, there have been rumors circulating that Pokemon Sword and Shield are getting a third DLC. Admittedly, there hasn't been much depth to these rumors outside of lore. With the release of Sword and Shield, many saw the caves, the juxta-position of the sea, the England-France Galar-Kalos connection, and the Great War as ways to suggest Galar and Kalos are connected. This has manifested in many ways, but many still linger for and believe that a Kalos DLC is coming to Pokemon Sword and Shield with the current expansion pass now effectively over.
Of course, many are going big thinking that this could be a whole new region, but proving or disproving that is neither here not there. Assuming the rumors are somewhat true and Game Freak moves forward with a Kalos DLC, that implies Pokemon Sword and Shield will add Mega Evolution. This, in turn, begs a ton of questions about Mega Evolution working alongside Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, but it may be simpler than how it's balanced.
With Ultra Beasts added to the game, there's little reason to not go all in and add Mega Evolutions too. Whatever form this Kalos DLC could take, it's clear that it wouldn't just be a tacked-on addition to sate fans. Presumably, unlocking Mega Evolutions would be part of the aforementioned DLC, with the same respect given to Ultra Beasts given to Mega Evolutions. What that would like remains uncertain for Pokemon Sword and Shield, but with Ultra Beasts now in the game and not as some tertiary option for players, Mega Evolutions seem more possible than ever.
Pokemon Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra DLC is available now. A third DLC has not been confirmed.