Earlier this month, Gamefreak’s Junichi Masuda revealed their controversial decision to limit the number of Pokemon transferable to Pokemon Sword & Shield to only those that were already featured in its regional Galar Dex.

Today, the Pokemon official website has published a letter penned by Junichi Masuda, intended for the fans who were disappointed with the decision. Although Gamefreak provided several explanations for their move online, this appears to be the first statement that directly addresses the fans and their response to the change.

In the statement, Masuda thanked the fans for their comments and their passion for Pokemon. While he did not share any plans to reverse the decision for Pokemon Sword and Shield, he reassured players that “even if a specific Pokemon is not available…that does not mean it will not appear in future games“. Masuda also reiterated that it was a “difficult decision” for him and his team to impose the limit, but they will continue to put their best effort into making Pokemon games an enjoyable experience regardless.

Thank you to all of our fans for caring so deeply about Pokémon. 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.

The world of Pokémon continues to evolve. The Galar region offers new Pokémon to encounter, Trainers to battle, and adventures to embark on. We are pouring our hearts into these games, and we hope you will look forward to joining us on this new journey.

June 28, 2019

Junichi Masuda

Given the wording of the statement, it is likely that Gamefreak is still on the fence about doing away with the limited Pokemon selection in Pokemon Sword and Shield. While there is still time for them to change their minds, it seems more likely that we won’t be seeing the National Dex return in the two games despite the fans’ best efforts.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.