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Game Freak has responded to a huge outcry from fans after it transpired during Nintendo's Treehouse E3 showcase that the latest entries of their hit Pokemon series: Pokemon Sword and Shield, would not allow players to import all 800+ Pokemon from the franchise's back catalogue of games.
In a blog post to Pokemon fans posted over the weekend, producer Junichi Masuda said 'Thank you to all of our fans for caring so deeply about Pokémon. Recently, I shared the news that some Pokémon cannot be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.' He continued: 'I've read all your comments and appreciate your love and passion for Pokémon.'
'Just like all of you, we are passionate about Pokémon and each and every one of them is very important to us. After so many years of developing the Pokémon video games, this was a very difficult decision for me. I'd like to make one thing clear: even if a specific Pokémon is not available in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, that does not mean it will not appear in future games.'
The news comes as a blow to fans, particularly after the announcement of the Pokemon Home app set for launch in 2020 for iOS and Android and Nintendo Switch that is supposedly set to allow you to 'bring over the Pokémon that you’ve shared adventures with throughout your journey' via the cloud.
Pokemon Sword and Shield is set to launch on exclusively on Nintendo Switch on November 19.
