Following the reveal of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield for Nintendo Switch, many fans have found themselves wondering if the games will also be available for purchase on Nintendo 3DS. After all, the previous generation of games (Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon) were exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS platform. To help clarify everything, we’ve put together a quick guide on whether Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will also be available on Nintendo 3DS.
To find out more about the Pokemon Sword and Shield release date, check out the latest info.
Can You Buy Pokémon Sword and Shield for Nintendo 3DS?
© Game Freak
The quick answer to whether or not you can buy Pokémon Sword and Shield for Nintendo 3DS is no, you can’t. As of right now, Pokémon Sword and Shield are confirmed for Nintendo Switch alone. Neither Nintendo nor Game Freak have offered any information regarding a 3DS release for the latest generation of Pokémon titles.
As such, it’s safe to assume that Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will remain exclusive to the Nintendo Switch platform. In the future, other Pokémon titles for 3DS may be announced as Nintendo has noted that they plan to continue supporting the platform. For example, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa is quoted in a recent FAQ, saying:
“Currently many of the consumers [sic] who newly purchase Nintendo 3DS are consumers purchasing Nintendo 3DS as their first game system. Nintendo 3DS is appealing as a portable game system, that is easy to carry around since it is small and light, and at a very desirable price point. Demand still remains from parents looking to purchase a first game system for their children. That is why our basic policy is to proceed with both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in our dedicated video game platform business.”
© Game Freak
From this information, it’s safe to say that Nintendo plans to continue 3DS support, at least in a hardware sense. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that new Pokémon titles are announced for 3DS, but for the time being, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will remain exclusive Nintendo Switch properties.
What are your thoughts on Pokémon Sword and Shield being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch? Are you sad you won’t be able to purchase them for 3DS? Let us know down in the comments below! For more on Pokémon Sword and Shield, be sure to check out some of our previous guides including a look at the three
