Pokemon Excluded from Scarlet and Violet's Indigo Disk DLC on the Switch

Article Key Points

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are the newest entries in the popular Pokemon franchise, bringing Generation IX to players.

These games address the problem of being unable to transfer Pokemon from earlier games to the Nintendo Switch.

With the forthcoming Indigo Disk DLC, nearly all Pokemon will be accessible on the Switch, with only 10 still unavailable on the platform.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet marks the latest additions to the expansive franchise of gaming. Since its introduction on the GameBoy in 1996 with Pokemon Red and Blue, this franchise has expanded to encompass a trading card game, movies, and a television anime, among other related media. Many individuals who were once children, have grown up appreciating Pokemon, a testament to its enduring appeal. While there are various factors that have contributed to this popularity, one significant aspect is the ability for players to transfer their pocket monsters across different games. However, this became slightly more complicated with the release of the Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet appear to address and rectify this issue to a great extent.

Pokemon Sword and Shield marked a pivotal moment for the mainline Pokemon games as they transitioned to home consoles. Nonetheless, these games came with a couple of drawbacks. Firstly, their design was largely identical to their 3DS predecessors, failing to fully capitalize on the increased hardware capabilities. However, the more glaring concern was the absence of the National Dex. Prior Pokemon games featured both a Regional and National Dex. The National Dex encompassed Pokemon not originally found within the game's local region. With the exclusion of the National Dex in Sword and Shield, and its diminished role in the base game of Scarlet and Violet, players were unable to transfer their cherished Pokemon, some of which they may have had for several years.

The gradual release of Pokemon games on the Switch, coupled with DLCs, ensures that nearly all Pokemon are currently or will eventually be accessible on the system. Leaks surrounding the upcoming Indigo Disk DLC suggest that upon its release, all but 10 Pokemon will be available on the Switch platform in some form or another. Most notably, Indigo Disk will introduce all the remaining starter Pokemon that were excluded in previous generations. Additionally, the inclusion of these past starters will be accompanied by over 100 more returning creatures. Although four new Pokemon will also be introduced, fans might still ponder over the fate of the creatures left behind.

After Indigo Disk, 10 Pokemon Will Still Not Be On the Switch

The next Pokemon game should definitely expand to include the complete national dex, but speculations indicate that the Indigo disc will at least allow players to transfer most of their legacy Pokemon from Pokemon Home into the game. Leaks suggest that the Switch platform games will still lack these 10 Pokemon even with the release of the Indigo Disc DLC:

Furfrou

Pansage

Simisage

Pansear

Simisear

Panpour

Simipour

Patrat

Watchog

Minior

Pokemon Needs to Consolidate

The release of Indigo Disk will complete the Paldea National Dex, but the current state of Pokemon is concerning when it comes to the Pokedex. Previous Pokemon games on non-Switch platforms always had support for previously featured monsters. While creating high-quality 3D models for the Switch is more costly, Pokemon games consistently break sales records and the series is the largest gaming franchise worldwide. Pokemon Home is the sole storage option for all Pokemon on the Switch, and while it is free, having more than 30 Pokemon stored or transferring from Pokemon Bank on the 3DS requires a monthly subscription. Requiring gamers to pay a subscription fee to keep all their Pokemon in one place is not consumer-friendly.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have propelled the franchise forward compared to recent mainline entries, but technical issues and the absence of a complete National Dex have hindered their potential greatness. Pokemon is such a massive franchise that it should be progressing with each new installment instead of taking steps backward. Though Scarlet and Violet's visuals resemble those of the PS1 era, this could have been more easily overlooked if the game felt more complete in terms of features. Being the first open-world mainline Pokemon game, encountering some growing pains is expected. Many of the game's technical problems might have been more forgivable to fans if staple features like the National Dex had been reintroduced. While Indigo Disk will significantly improve the situation, future entries should strongly consider bringing back the National Dex.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are the upcoming main series Pokemon games. These two versions will be the arrival of Generation IX.

Franchise PokemonPlatform(s) SwitchReleased November 18, 2022Developer(s) Game FreakGenre(s) RPG

Editor's P/S

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the latest installments in the long-running Pokemon franchise, have been highly anticipated by fans around the world. One of the biggest issues that fans have had with recent Pokemon games is the exclusion of certain Pokemon from the regional Pokedex. This has made it difficult for players to transfer their favorite Pokemon from previous games to the newer ones. However, with the upcoming Indigo Disk DLC for Scarlet and Violet, it seems that Game Freak is finally addressing this issue.

The Indigo Disk DLC will reportedly add over 100 Pokemon to the game, including all of the previously unavailable starter Pokemon. This is a huge step in the right direction, and it will allow players to finally complete their National Dex. However, there are still 10 Pokemon that will be missing from the Switch platform even with the release of the DLC. These Pokemon are Furfrou, Pansage, Simisage, Pansear, Simisear, Panpour, Simipour, Patrat, Watchog, and Minior. It's unclear why these particular Pokemon were left out, but it's possible that they will be added in a future DLC or update.