Keen-eyed shoppers may have noticed that, on the Pokemon Sword and Shield Nintendo eShop pages, the games are said to offer in-game purchases. While Sword and Shield have added many features not seen before in the franchise, such as the Wild Area and Dynamaxing/Gigantamaxing, are microtransactions one of those additions? Read this Pokemon Sword and Shield in-game purchases guide to learn what exactly you can buy in-game.
Do Pokemon Sword and Shield have microtransactions?
While Nintendo franchises’ mobile outings like Mario Kart Tour and Pokemon GO have fully embraced microtransactions to further players’ progress, the company’s main console and handheld titles have largely steered clear of in-game purchases. That would make Pokemon Sword and Shield quite a departure for the company if the games did indeed include microtransactions. Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order bonuses, like the 12 Quick Balls players could receive, might have made some fans worry that the games would include the option to buy helpful items, but this isn’t the case.
ALSO: Pokemon Sword and Shield Age Rating | Safe for children?
Luckily for microtransaction-wary fans, Pokemon Sword and Shield only include one in-game purchase — and it’s not even specific to the games themselves. In both the previously mentioned Wild Area and in trades and other interactivity features throughout, Pokemon Sword and Shield players have several ways of engaging in cooperative play with other players online. As with most online connectivity features on the Switch, accessing these requires having an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. According to the Nintendo eShop, both games include an option for players to purchase a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in-game if they don’t already have one.
We have yet to run into any other kind of in-game purchase, and the eShop page doesn’t mention any others, so it appears this Nintendo Switch Online subscription option is the only one to be found in Sword and Shield.
