Originally reported in an exclusive interview with Game Informer was that the latest Pokemon games, Sword and Shield, would offer a massive 18 different Pokemon Gyms for players to take on during their adventures in the Galar region. Apparently, that information appeared to be a mistranslation on the publication's part, as The Pokemon Company International has stepped in to correct the original story. In an official statement, the company clarified that there are indeed 18 Pokemon Gyms in the Galar region, however, they exist to "contribute to the background setting of the story". As in previous Pokemon games, there are only 8 Gym Leaders you'll be able to take on, though they will be different depending on which game you choose.

In the Galar region, Pokémon Gym Battles are popular sporting events, and the 18 different types of Gyms that exist in Galar contribute to the background setting of the story in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. In each game, Trainers must collect eight Gym Badges to complete the Gym Challenge and earn the opportunity to participate in the Champion Cup.

Over the course of the main story, Trainers will challenge eight Gyms, which are all in the Major League. Which Gyms appear in the Major League and Minor League will differ between Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. For example, depending on the version of the game, Trainers will be able to challenge different Gym Leaders, such as Bea or Allister.

Each version will have eight Gyms and eight Gym Leaders that Trainers can battle for a traditional Gym Challenge experience that fans have enjoyed throughout the Pokémon video game series.

Source

 

[Something whatever]

Really reaching to bottom of the barrel get people to buy both games. In a year or 2 they are going to release Pokemon "Knight" with the same issue.

 

[gamesquest1]

they did have 18 gyms planned, but unfortunately they didn't have time to copy paste the 3DS door opening animations over to the switch so 17 of the gyms are broken, you get 1 gym guys, so make it count

 

[Xandrid]

This does not put a smile on my face

 

[altorn]

There are more NPG's (Non Playable Gyms) than actual Gyms? WTF?

 

[Deleted member 373223]

There are more NPG's (Non Playable Gyms) than actual Gyms? WTF?

They never said the games will both have the same 8 gyms. Sword and Shield might have ENTIRELY different gyms meaning only two non playable gyms.

 

[altorn]

They never said the games will both have the same 8 gyms. Sword and Shield might have ENTIRELY different gyms meaning only two non playable gyms.

From the POV of a player who only owns 1 version, and knows about the existence of 18 total gyms, they only have access to 8 gyms and 10 will not be accessible unless the player plays the other version. No?

 

[VartioArtel]

Then where did the 18 figure come from? 8+8=16, what happened to the remaining 2? Or am I misunderstanding something here

"18 different types of Gyms that exist in Galar contribute to the background setting of the story"

There's 18 total, we visit/conquer 8 of them.

 

[Something whatever]

It seems like a teeeeeeerrible idea to even mention those 18 gyms, then, good lord XD

GameFreak has not been good with PR for Sword and Shield...

 

[seany1990]

Its been 20 years and game freak has done almost 0 innovation in the pokemon games, they certainly weren't starting now

 

[Jiehfeng]

"18 different types of Gyms that exist in Galar contribute to the background setting of the story"

There's 18 total, we visit/conquer 8 of them.

Ah, so one of them is just for show? Just one that says out of maintenance or something?

 

[ShadowOne333]

Hahaha damn.
These guys are just digging deeper and deeper into their own coffin.
First the whole National Dex, animations, models and awful next-gen graphics, and now this?

I just hope all of this gets them where it hurts... in their pockets. :^}

 

[Something whatever]

Hahaha damn.
These guys are just digging deeper and deeper into their own coffin.
First the whole National Dex, animations, models and awful next-gen graphics, and now this?

I just hope all of this gets them where it hurts... in their pockets. :^}

Oh lets not fool ourselves, its going to sell like hotcakes...Even tho it looks like a HD 3DS game and them cutting content to save "time" its still going to sell like crazy. Bad Publicity is still publicity after all...

 

[ombus]

Lame.. If one can play only 8 why mention 18.. They could have said any number.. 36. 56 and it doesnt change anything.

 

[raxadian]

And yet another more reason this game sucks. I miss Gold and Silver were you were able to take on 16 gyms.

Looks like I will just skip these games like skipped X and Y and the remakes of Ruby and Sapphire.

 

[julianuf]

I don't get ALL the hate.

It's like a soccer league. There's the good one (major) and the smaller one (minor) no one really cares about. To go to the E4 you have to conquer the major league.

That probably means there are two gyms that are in the minor league in both games. (Or more if there's some major overlap, which I would assume would probably be at least one or two.)

It's like walking by a tiny city (like that second city in gold/silver), they're not big or important enough to have a gym in the major league, but they still have a minor league gym, which I think is a nice touch and better than nothing.

I think it's an interesting concept. And personally, if I were in charge of this, I would make the minor gyms also playable, you just... Don't get a badge. (Or whatever). Don't see that happening, though. (Sadly)

 

[MarkDarkness]

Its been 20 years and game freak has done almost 0 innovation in the pokemon games, they certainly weren't starting now

You forget stupid gigant Pokémon that are just Mega Evolution but lazier. That's super innovative.

 

[Purple_Heart]

why dont they end pokemon already

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instead of including all pokemon..they had to do that shitty dynamax crap nobody asked for and the ugly
galarform of old pokemon....f...u...game freak

 

[Enryx25]

why dont they end pokemon already

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instead of including all pokemon..they had to do that shitty dynamax crap nobody asked for and the ugly
galarform of old pokemon....f...u...game freak

Because every new generation sells 15m+ copies.
That shit of LGPE sold 11m copies.

 

[Purple_Heart]

LGPE fk that crap .......

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LGPE is a disgrace

 

[chartube12]

Just another reason to hate GameStop...they own game informer..