The Pokemon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara announced Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, the highly anticipated Generation 8 games for the Nintendo Switch, on Wednesday, the 23rd anniversary of the launch of the first game.  The games will launch late this year, bringing a new setting and characters to the Pokemon universe.

Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield introduce Galar, a new region with countryside, contemporary cities, forest, mountains, and people and Pokemon who work together to develop the industries in the region.  Players will choose one of three new Pokemon, Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble, to begin the game.

This is the first new Pokemon game for the Switch; previous releases have been remakes.

The new characters, region, and other elements will presumably find their way into the TCG, manga, anime, and merch.

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