Game Freak isn't recycling 3DS models in Pokémon Sword and Shield after all Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Game Freak isn't recycling 3DS models in Pokémon Sword and Shield after all Developer says all models have been made from scratch. News by Vikki Blake Contributor Updated on 14 Jul 2019 78 comments As Game Freak continues to battle criticism from Pokémon fans unhappy that Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield won't support every single Pokémon species, speculation that the Pokédex has been truncated because the studio was "recycling" models from the newer 3DS games has seemingly been proven untrue. As Wes reported last week, earlier this month it emerged Sword and Shield - which pushes the series' overall Pokémon count to over 1000 - won't let you catch all the Pokémon, nor will you be able to transfer Pokémon outside of the games' regional Pokédex making Sword and Shield the first new, mainline Pokémon games not to support every single Pokémon species. Now, however, a month-old Japanese-language interview with Famitsu (thanks, Polygon) has brought to light confirmation that the developer is indeed creating the creatures from scratch, but better graphics and newer mechanics such as Mega Evolution meant the team felt it had no choice but to curtail the Pokédex in order to maintain "quality". Game Freak's Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori purportedly said that given the Switch's improved graphics it was difficult enough to bring the full Pokédex to Pokémon Sun and Moon in 2016, let alone do so now with Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. "Of course, I wanted to be able to bring all Pokemon if I could do it," Ohmori said at the time, according to Google translate. "But it was also a decision that I had to make some day. In the end, I had no choice but to choose the quality." In a rare public comment to fans last week, Masuda addressed the "love and passion for Pokémon", and moved to reassure concerned fans that "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". "Thank you to all of our fans for caring so deeply about Pokémon," he said. "Recently, I shared the news that some Pokémon cannot be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. 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." Chris Tapsell went hands-on with Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield at E3 2019, and spotted two all-new Pokémon. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store