Pokemon Sword and Shield will be the second game of its kind to launch on the Nintendo Switch.
Game Freak has produced plenty of Pocket Monster games but this will be the first mainline exclusive title for the handheld console.
And it looks like the new Pokemon adventure based in the Galar Region is set to be a massive seller for Nintendo in both 2019 and 2020.
And that’s good news for the company, who are still looking to sell more Nintendo Switch consoles before the arrival of the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett.
So when exactly will fans be able to start exploring Pokemon Sword and Shield this week?
POKEMON SWORD AND SHIELD RELEASE TIME
Pokemon Sword and Shield has a release date set for Friday, November 15, 2019.
It shares the date with Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order but as that title is not launching on Nintendo Switch, they’re unlikely to affect each other.
And the good news is that fans won’t be waiting around to start playing Pokemon Sword and Shield when November 15 starts.
Speaking to Polygon, a Nintendo representative confirmed that the Nintendo eShop release of Sword and Shield would have a unified global release.
The only area where this would not be true is in the United States, which will be running to a slightly different timetable in one timezone.
According to the Nintendo representative, Pokemon Sword and Shield will become available to play at midnight on November 15.
This will be the official Pokemon release time for the UK, but things will be a little different for those in the United States.
In the US, Pokemon Sword and Shield will be going live at midnight ET, and 9pm PT.
“This specifically applies to regions where the eShop is available,” the representative told Polygon.
“For the U.S., it’s available at midnight ET, meaning it’ll be available at 9 pm PT on 11/14.”
And for gamers planning on buying Pokemon Sword and Shield, it will also be possible to pick up the game at around the same time.
In the United States, we know that Best Buy and Gamestop will be hosting midnight launches. Select Best Buy stores will be opening at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday, November 15, or 9:00 p.m. PT Thursday, November 14.
For gamers looking to use GameStop, stores have confirmed that they will be doing early pick up for Sword and Shield.
To guarantee a copy of the game for pick up at 11pm on November 14, gamers will need to pre-order. These will be available until 6pm on Thursday, November 14, and will make it possible to grab a copy of the game.
You will also be able to turn up and try and buy Pokemon Sword and Shield during the early period. It should be noted that most stores will have limited stock and won’t be able to guarantee against selling out.
In the UK, the retailer GAME has confirmed that specific locations will be opening at 11pm on November 14.
Not every store is doing this, though, so it will be worth finding out if your local store is participating.
For everyone who plans to play the game later in the day, Pokemon Sword and Shield will be available to buy on November 15, 2019.