How Pokémon Lost Its Magic - The Story of Pokémon on the Switch

Pokémon has had its fair share of controversy on the Switch, but how did this really happen? How did the fan base become so divided and the Pokémon Company so criticized? In today's video essay I tell the story of Pokémon on the Nintendo Switch so far, and give my own analysis along the way. Everything in this video is my own opinion, and if your opinion is different that's perfectly fine.
I've actually been planning on making a video essay on modern Pokémon ever since the release of Pokémon HOME, but it just kinda went on the video essay backlog. The recent direct covering Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends was the point for me where I said "alright, I need to get my thoughts out there on this now".
Something crazy is for most of Pokémon on the Switch I've been kinda indifferent about things, I understood people's criticisms but didn't really have any myself and just kinda went with the flow. It's mostly around the midpoint of our story here than I began considering the consequences of what was happening to this IP.

📖Legend
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0:00 Intro
1:30 Chapter 1 ~ New Beginnings | Let's Go - Sword/Shield
13:42 Chapter 2 ~ Service? Or Disservice...? | Pokémon HOME - Expansion Pass
24:10 Chapter 3 ~ The Next Step Forward | Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl - Pokémon Legends
35:47 Chapter 4 ~ How Pokémon Lost Its Magic
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🎨Fan Made BDSP Trailer By millenniumloops
🎨Thumbnail By AcousticHarmonia, but the background left side of it is from the millenniumloops fan trailer above

🎵Music
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Lake
Pokémon DPPt
sentsinkanteun

A Trip Through Kanto
Pokémon RBGY
Snivys

Sonia
Pokémon SwSh
NuzLok

Boutique
Pokémon SwSh
GlitchxCity

Marnie
Pokémon SwSh

Champion Leon
Pokémon SwSh

Eternatus (Phase 3)
Pokémon SwSh

Fallen Stars ~ Eternatus (Phase 3)
Pokémon SwSh
Catorstrax

Stow-on-Side
Pokémon SwSh
Sheet Music Boss

Turffield
Pokémon SwSh
GlitchxCity

Pokémon League
Pokémon DPPt
Tad

Twinleaf Town
Pokémon DPPt
Mewmore

Sinnoh Beginnings
Pokémon DPPt
GuildmasterMusic

Canalave City
Pokémon DPPt
insaneintherainmusic

Route 201
Pokémon DPPt
GlitchxCity, Helynt

Cherish ~ Mystery Gift
Pokémon Platinum
sheddy
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#PokemonBDSP #PokemonLegends #PokemonSwitch

Games: Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu/Let's Go Eevee, Pokémon Sword/Shield, Pokémon HOME, Pokémon SwSh Expansion Pass (Isle of Armor/Crown Tundra), Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Pokémon Legends Arceus, Nintendo Switch Online (is that a game? whatever, it's something we talk about here)
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Timeline: May 29, 2018 - February 26, 2021
Developers/Publishers: GameFreak, Pokémon Company, Nintendo

[AcousticHarmonia]

Usually this is where I'd write some extra thoughts of mine or insight into why I created the video or whatnot, but this time I honestly don't know what to say. This isn't an easy topic for me to talk about, considering Pokémon is one of my big three childhood franchises (other two being RCT and Sly), and it's definitely helped shape a fascination in video games in me that's had me pursue game design today. It's hard for me to look at the current state of the series and really just express what I feel needs to be said, like during the whole Sword/Shield fiasco I never really brought up any issues myself at the time and just went with the flow, even semi defending some bad design decisions. But at the end of the day, it's a multi-billion dollar company, they don't care about x random person defending them on the interwebs. What they do care about is if fans are aware of the issues that can otherwise be gotten away with, and if a great number of fans express that things aren't up to their expectations. And so I figure for that reason it's more important to spread criticism and problem awareness than defense, but that's my hot take on that matter at least.

As I say in the video though, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Like if you're hyped for the remakes, then great, I hope you get lots of fun out of them. You have no obligation to follow my opinion, but I do thank you for taking the time to hear it out.
And please, let's be civil. I know this is a controversial topic, but please don't say anything to anybody in the comments section you wouldn't say to somebody face to face. Behind every username is a real person with their own experiences, aspirations, personalities, sensitivities... Somebody having a different opinion on a series of children's video games is never enough reason to personally attack them. (Literally hundreds of commenters anyway: "This can't stop me because I can't read!")

Anyway, as always I'll use the pinned comment for any updated information or things I got wrong (and despite including this here I'm STILL "corrected" by several people in comments on a daily basis ALWAYS for these exact two points, so uh, there's that)
-Turns out Pokemon HOME doesn't immediately pull the trigger on your Pokemon if you stop paying, it just keeps them permanently locked away until you can afford to pay their bail. Even if it's not immediately deleted this is still glorified ransomware, your data is still being kept from you unless you pay up. Almost any other cloud service you'll be able to download your data before your plan runs out, but sure not for Pokemon HOME if it's any Pokemon not allowed in Sword/Shield, literally the only way to have any control over any of these specific mons put in there is to pay. I have also heard some reports that if you don't pay for long enough they may be deleted after an undisclosed amount of time as well.
-Yes technically you can still receive the Pokemon added by the SwSh DLC from trades or such even if you don't own the DLC

Greetings from December 2021. Since YouTube recently hid the dislike count on all videos on the platform, I'm sure a lot of people might be wondering what the Like ratio is on this video anyway?
92.3%... 92.3% is the Like ratio as of December 4, 2021. Ever since the dislike count became hidden though, let's just see I've seen a dramatic increase in those with a "greater than thou" mentality in the comments.
Also it's neat to have seen so much reception on this video, but, I do have other videos too ya know...?

[Ikcatcher]

Pokémon really feels like it’s just in an endless loop of trying to appeal new fans while at the same time trying to keep old fans with nostalgia

[whitechocolatte]

It sounds like he’s about to break down in tears the entire time.

[jebbryant]

Seeing the newest games is like seeing an old friend from school that’s gotten on crack they used to be a chill cool and creative person but now they seem like they’re in a rush and ask to borrow money

[morganqorishchi]

I know things aren't going to get better. There's no financial incentive to make good games when anything you make sells, no matter how bad it is. But I miss the point in my life where I was blown away by every new Pokemon game, where it wasn't annual and so much effort went into the experience. Those were good times.

[keldeo]

Gotta love how the only good looking Pokemon game isn't made by the Pokemon company, pokemon snap is made by bandai

[ThatLoudCockatoo]

Someone probably already mentioned this, but Snap 2 isn't being made by Game Freak. It's a third party game from Bandai Namco. The most beautiful Pokenon game on the Switch isn't even made by the main Pokenon devs lol

[avadoksorem]

If Game Freak can’t adapt to being competent with more powerful hardware, they need to start outsourcing development to more capable studios.

[HumanGeweld]

My big brother had pokemon Home, we saved all our mons on it. I have lost him 8 weeks ago, and his home subscription is past, so all our childhoodmemories, are mostly in the void now. Thank you dearly for making this video and bringing it to Light, lets hope it reaches them

[frokydafroakie]

gamefreak in 1996 : we made this cool monster collecting game hope you like it
gamefreak in 2021 : we are holding your pokemon hostage

[roguespectre]

I fear that they won’t learn from their bad decisions until they finally end up killing their golden goose.

[Thunderstar]

The models were even referred to as “future proof” when they first went 3D with XY, meaning they could just yoink them, increase resolution, and be done. Which they did, but still cut Pokémon.

[Wynntersenk]

The biggest problem with sword/shield’s main map is that the wild area has a bunch of Pokémon in areas that don’t work. Basically it was like they didn’t have their own habitats. But also that each route was super linear and kind of meh. They should have not done a big wild area and worked on each route actually being unique with good habitats, more spread out.

[phinnyfarr]

I feel like Greed is becoming more prevalent in the Gaming world. I know there could be circumstances that change the final products. But It's getting increasingly uncommon to find developers that seem genuinely involved in wanting to make their games good and enjoyable.

[kekitus]

One point you didn't really elaborate was also the end of Mega Evolution for... Dynamax. Literally just bigger Pokemons.

Mega evolutions were so cool, making some fan favorite Pokemons relevant again. I also remember the hype train when the community was speculating on who would be the next mega. Why remove a feature that most fans came to love to add such a basic feature as Dynamax?

[KarimJovian]

I am surprised you didn't mention the cool colored cartridges they use to make. I was happy they when back to carts hoping we get those cool colored carts again. The crystal pokemon clear cart was my fave and the pokemon red game cart was my first.

[poi]

The vast majority will settle with mediocre gameplay and anticonsumer practices. This is why Pokémon has no chance of changing. It's a sad truth I've come to terms with over the years. Thank you for this video, it addressed the many unspoken complaints I've had.

[nekkerscam]

Hop literally has all recycled animations from Hau

[mikiarkensaw]

The Pokemon Home System was the reason I stopped moving my Pokemon from previous game to next. Now they are retired under Alola's warm sun and waiting for better times to battle again with me in new region.

[Furiousg]

I know that im one month late, but I feel bad for Pokemon fans.Something that you loved when you were a kid and see it come this way it's just disappointing and makes you miss the old days of being a kid, instead of being betrayed by a company and franchise that you loved and grew up as a kid.