Expansion Pass (and More)

Learn about the paid Expansion Pass for Pokemon Sword and Shield, including The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra content, release dates, and free updates.

Hey there! So, you're probably wondering about what's next after you finish the main story in Pokémon Sword and Shield, right? In the past, Nintendo used to release a whole new version of the game, like Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon after Sun and Moon. Those usually packed in new storylines, extra Pokémon forms, and more post-game stuff. But for Sword and Shield, they're doing something a bit different!

Instead of a whole new game, they've released a paid Expansion Pass. This pass is actually split into two big chunks of content. Think of it like two DLCs, one after the other. The first part is called The Isle of Armor, and it dropped around June 2020. The second part is The Crown Tundra, which came out in Autumn 2020.

Each of these expansions brings a bunch of cool new things to the table. You'll get to explore brand new areas, meet new Pokémon, dive into additional story content, and discover new gameplay features. Plus, they're adding over 100 returning Pokémon in each part, so that's over 200 Pokémon total that weren't in the base game! The best part? When you get the expansion, you can just load up your current save file and jump right in. Just make sure you've reached the Wild Area – that happens pretty early on in the game, within the first few hours, so you won't have to wait long!

Now, here's a really neat thing: with each part of the Expansion Pass that comes out, there's also a free update for everyone. This free update lets all players, even if you don't have the Expansion Pass, collect those 100+ returning Pokémon that are introduced in that set. If you don't own the pass, you can still get these Pokémon by trading with friends who do, or by using the upcoming Pokémon Home app. So, there's really something for everyone!