AsPokemonapproaches the annual celebration of the long-running monster-catching franchise’s anniversary, The Pokemon Company has already announced a whole slew of plans to celebrate the massively popular series' big day.The Pokemon Company revealed daily announcementsearlier this week coming for many ongoing titles likePokemon GOandPokemon Uniteleading up to Pokemon Day on the 27th and, now,Pokemon Sword and Shieldhave officially revealed that a trio of iconic Pokemon will be featured throughout the week in special Max Raid battles.
Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Max Raid battles were one of the game’s most highly-touted features leading up to its release in 2019, featuring towering creatures for trainers to take on in a group of 4 with either AI-controlled teammates or other players.Sword and Shieldhave often used Max Raids to accompany different events both inside and outside the franchise, such as featuring Eiscue raids during 2021’s World Penguin Day and Magikarp raids for April Fools' Day. Now, withPokemongearing up to celebrate the franchise’s 26th anniversary, The Pokemon Company has officially announced thatSword and Shield’s celebrations will star the Kanto starter trio as Max Raids with their Gigantamax forms.
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The official announcement from the JapanesePokemonwebsite reveals thatPokemon Sword and Shieldwill feature special Max Raid battles to celebratePokemonDay featuring theGigantamax versions of Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. Players will be able to challenge these souped-up starters starting on Tuesday and lasting through the end of the month with the event officially ending on Monday, February 28th. Players who defeat the Gigantamax starters will also be able to obtain Max Mushrooms which they can use to change Pokemon into their Gigantamax forms or revert to their normal forms.
The newest event forPokemon Sword and Shieldcame as a surprise for many fans of the franchise asPokemonhas since moved on to the next title withPokemon Legends: Arceusreleasing late last month.Sword and Shield’s last major update came with the Crown Tundra update in October and many assumed the developer was finished withPokemon’s eighth generation title as focus shifted toArceus.Sword and Shieldhave continued to feature minor eventssince Crown Tundra’s launch with many similarly featuring themed Max Raids for players to challenge.
WhilePokemon Sword and Shieldwere met with criticism leading up to their release, the franchise’s Galar region entries saw massive commercial success. Recently released financial data placesPokemon Sword and Shieldasthe second best-sellingPokemontitles, only falling short of the games that introducedPokemonto the world inRed/Green/Blue. Between the recent popularity ofPokemon Legends: Arceusand the longevity ofSword and Shield,Pokemonhas continued to prove its status as one of the highest-grossing franchises in gaming.
Pokemon Sword and Shieldare available now for the Nintendo Switch.
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