The Nintendo Switch has received quite a few huge games since its launch. From The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to ports from other systems like LA Noire and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the Nintendo Switch has given gamers a lot of reasons to be excited about the games that are coming out. One game that's really been building hype is the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield pair of games.

Related: 10 Pokemon Games You’ve Never Heard Of

The Pokémon games have had people hooked since they first hit the market back in the 1990s. Since the first game came out and introduced us to the original 151 Pokémon, the world of the Pokémon franchise has really grown and now, there are several different regions and several hundred different Pokémon that can be caught in the different games.

We have a few months before we can get our hands on Pokémon Sword and Shield, but there are some details about the game we already know. To see them, keep reading!

10 10. It's Being Released November 15th, 2019

Let's be honest, none of the details that we have about Pokémon Sword and Shield really matter if we don't know how long we have to wait for these games to be released. But don't worry! Nintendo has given us a release date, so we know exactly how much time we have to go back and beat our favorite Pokémon game all over again in the meantime.

Pokémon Sword and Shield, the first game in the main Pokémon series to be released on a home console instead of a handheld one, is going to be released worldwide on November 15th, 2019. Even though that's a little ways away, some retailers are already offering pre-orders, so you don't have to risk it being sold out when the big day comes.

9 9. This New Region Is Called Galar

Move over, Kanto, Alola, and Johto! There's a new region for Pokémon fans to get excited about exploring. Pokémon Sword and Shield is going to be set in a whole new region known as the Galar Region. According to information that we've received so far about Pokémon Sword and Shield, we know that Galar is going to be a pretty unique region for the Pokémon franchise.

Galar is going to feature multiple different types of environments, each of which has different weather patterns and a unique landscape. This means that the variety of Pokémon that will be found around the Galar region is going to be pretty varied.

8 8. There's A Limited Edition Switch Lite

Nintendo is definitely no stranger to Limited Edition consoles. Throughout the years, they've released consoles in all kinds of different colors and patterns and often released consoles that were specifically designed after a specific game that they've released. The Nintendo Switch Lite was recently announced and already has fans pretty excited for it, but Pokémon fans have even more of a reason to look forward to this console.

Related: Nintendo Switch Lite Won’t Support All Games

Along with the three different color options for the Switch Lite, Nintendo is also releasing a Special Edition console that has colorful buttons and Zacian and Zamazenta, the Legendary Pokémon for this generation, on the back.

7 7. This Is Generation VIII

If you're someone that was into Pokémon in the 90s and knew the name of every Pokémon in the original 151, it's likely that you've looked at some of the newer Pokémon and been pretty shocked to see how many of them there are.

Including all the Pokémon that are going to be added in Pokémon Sword and Shield, there are over 824 Pokémon in total! The release of Pokémon Sword and Shield marks the start of Generation VII for the Pokémon franchise, so it's no surprise that the National Pokédex has grown so much since 1996.

6 6. There Are Tons Of New Pokémon

So far, we don't have a lot of information about who all the new Pokémon that are going to be introduced with Generation VIII are. But, there are a few that we've either seen or been introduced to and it's easy for hardcore Pokémon fans to get excited about the prospect of catching some of these new Pokémon and keeping them in our parties.

Related: Rumor: Pokemon Sword and Shield Will Add Farfetch’d Evolution

Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble are the three new starter Pokémon. Like in other games, they're a Fire-type, Wate-type, and Grass-type. Along with these, there are other new Pokémon like Gossifleur, Yamper, Alcremie, and Duraludon.

5 5. Not Everyone Is Returning

This news is something that might be seriously disappointing to many Pokémon fans. The idea of being able to see all over the over 800 different Pokémon that are in the franchise in Galar is an exciting concept, right? Unfortunately, it's not going to happen.

The game's developers have announced that only the Pokémon that appear in the Galar Pokédex will actually be available to be transferred from older games. What does this mean for the Pokémon that players will be able to find in the game? Basically, it means that not every single one of the over 800 Pokémon from the franchise will be appearing in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

4 4. Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing Are A Thing Now

That giant Raichu can't be real, right? Actually, it is. This is an example of two new mechanics that Pokémon Sword and Shield will be introducing to the series: Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing. What's the difference?

Any Pokémon can Dynamax. Dynamaxing turns the Pokémon that it's used on into an absolutely massive version of that Pokémon and they can perform Max Moves for three turns before returning back to normal. Meanwhile, only some Pokémon are able to Gigantamax. Gigantamaxing changes a Pokémon's appearance and gives them access to special Pokémon-specific moves known as G-Moves, similar to Generation VII's Z-Moves.

3 3. Battles Aren't In Gyms Anymore

In all the past Pokémon games, players have battled against Gym Leaders at their respective Gym. Each Gym Leader is a master when it comes to a certain type of Pokémon. For instance, Sabrina is the Psychic-type Gym Leader, Brock's specialty is Rock-type, and Misty is all about Water-type Pokémon.

Related: All the Pokemon Sword and Shield Gym Leaders Revealed So Far

But in Pokémon Sword and Shield, battles aren't going to take place in gyms anymore. Instead, they're going to be happening in huge stadiums with Pokémon fans watching and cheering like it's the sporting event of the century. This change is one that's pretty cool!

2 2. They've Added Max Raid Battles

Although exploring the world of Pokémon Sword and Shield on your own will no doubt be a ton of fun, the addition of these Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed Pokémon is definitely something that will probably make battling against wild Pokémon pretty difficult. Luckily, Nintendo has already thought about that.

In order to make battling against some of the tougher wild Pokémon a little easier, they've added co-op play into Pokémon Sword and Shield. In co-op mode, players can either play with nearby friends who have their own copy of the game or with people online from around the world in order to help each other battle and catch wild Pokémon.

1 1. Weather Will Change The Pokémon You Encounter

One of the main things that we've seen about Galar is the fact that this region is so large and varied. There are so many different types of landscapes and, according to Nintendo, there will be quite a few different types of weather events that come up as you're exploring Galar.

This is awesome on its own but the thing that makes this even more interesting is the fact that the different areas of the map and the different types of weather will impact the Pokémon that you're able to find as you're exploring. So, if it's sunny, there will likely be different Pokémon out than if it were raining.

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