Back in the dark ages, before wifi, people had to actually talk to one another in person. It was the worst. That applied double to Pokémon games, because if you wanted to trade a Haunter for a Machoke and double up on special evolutions, you had to actually have a friend and a mile of cables with which to complete your pokedex. Can you imagine it? Going outside, exposing your skin to actual light and making awkward conversation just so that you could do some Pokémon battling and trading with humans?
Anyway, the series reached glorious new heights of introversion thanks to Pokémon Global Link in the days of Pokémon Black and White, a hub for competition and activity across multiple generations of pocket monster collecting. If you were ever looking to get serious about Pokémon, the Global Link website has been the de facto hub for organising battles and tournaments, but that’s all changing with Generation VIII around the corner.
Pokémon Sword and Shield will be axing the Global Link website, folding the core functionality of that service into the Battle Stadium feature instead. “For Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, services equivalent to the current Rating Battle and Online Competitions are planned to be supported,” Nintendo said in a press statement.
However, PGL will not support Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. These battles and Online Competitions can be enjoyed in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield using just the connectivity features of Nintendo Switch.
Pokémon Home will be the place to be for all things Pokémon in the near future. Rankings and a hub to store your critters from across Pokémon Bank, Pokémon Let’s Go and upcoming games, with the service launching in 2020. Which I genuinely hope has been retooled to make Pokémon transfers smoother. You ever try to transfer over 300 Pokémon from the Bank into Ultra Moon just so that you can complete a Pokedex? Trust me, it ain’t easy when you have to use ye olde directional controls for each ‘mon. [Ed’s note: Please stop calling them “mon.” Please?]
In addition to all that, here’s the latest trailer for Pokémon Sword and Shield which focuses on the quaint new Galar region locale and its rustic villages:
Pokémon Sword and Shield will be out on November 15, and if there were a drinking game running for each use of the word “Pokémon” in this article then you’d be on your fourth liver by now.
Last Updated: August 21, 2019
Yondaime
August 21, 2019 at 11:55
At this rate Pokémon will literally be here forever.
Pariah
August 21, 2019 at 11:55
It’ll take that long to catch them all anyway.
Yondaime
August 21, 2019 at 12:06
And it doesn’t help that they keep making up new animal things (Pokémon) to collect, my grand kids will probably still be reading about Pokémon at my age
Pariah
August 21, 2019 at 12:06
What you think the count will be then? 5426?
HvR
August 21, 2019 at 12:41
2054
*takes a very deep breath*
“I want be the best there ever was
To beat all the rest, yeah that’s my cause
Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey
Venusaur, Rattatta, Fearow, Pidgey…..
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 21, 2019 at 12:07
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/74/70/187470c7ec3c5a20c49584b10999b51f.jpg
Pariah
August 21, 2019 at 12:18
That is terrifying. XD
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 21, 2019 at 12:18
Thank you, I just googled “horrible pokemon face” and boom, nightmare fuel
Pariah
August 21, 2019 at 12:18
At this point I’m not sure if it’s a fetish or if you’re just a masochist with all the nightmare fuel you find and post here. XD
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 21, 2019 at 12:29
My fetish is being a masochist
Yahtzee
August 21, 2019 at 12:08
GLS was it’s own downfall since most “hacked” pokemon could be obtained through it with the help of a DNS injected browser site.
I’m pretty sure this is why they are keeping it away. Pokemon VG competitions have grown a lot over the years, and breeding and making the perfect team is a core mechanic of all this.
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 21, 2019 at 12:17
It’s like you are speaking some form of English…
Yahtzee
August 21, 2019 at 12:17
I also don’t remember names of people I meet. That mind space is all reserved for hundreds of Pokemon names.
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 21, 2019 at 12:18
I have that same issue, if people don’t make an impression on me, the name goes right out
Yahtzee
August 21, 2019 at 12:18
I know exactly what you mean Stephan.
Pariah
August 21, 2019 at 12:18
Is that pronounced, “Steff-in” or “ste-faan”?
HvR
August 21, 2019 at 12:29
Step-han
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 21, 2019 at 12:30
Dis ok Otterman, I can take a hint
Kikmi
August 21, 2019 at 14:34
I’m still annoyed about not being able to bring my gb/ds/3ds mons to the new system. I know its because of limitations due to animations and character assets but I mean surely they could at least let them live in a pokeachipelago type thing for the meantime in sprite format. Theres so many solutions that could be applied but lets also not forget I am a brat.