Pokémon Sword and Shield may not be the Gigantamax version, but it will soon be expanded. During this morning's Pokémon Direct, the Game Freak team revealed the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Passes, which will add new regions and Pokémon to catch.

Junichi Masuda, producer of Sword and Shield, characterized these expansion passes as the company's new strategy to move away from re-releases (such as the Platinum and Emerald editions) and add content.

The expansion packs expand on two new parts of Galar that gamers have yet to experience and will not be released at the same time. (Each expansion pack costs $29.99, and I say each because (of course) the packs are different for Sword and Shield.)

Sword & Shield's director, Game Freak's Hiroki Tani, has positioned the first area of the expansion pass, "Armor Island" (due out in June 2020), as an exercise in learning to "grow up." It begins with a new Gigantamax version of the original "Sword & Shield" starter Pokémon.

There is also a dojo, where you meet your newest master (Mustard), who entrusts you with a fighting-type Pokémon, Kubuh, a legendary Pokémon that evolves into Ursif.

In its evolved state, Ursif has two styles of combat. Its stand-alone types are Fighting and Dark, and its kryptonite types are Fighting and Water. In the direct video, it was announced that you would want to take Ursif to online matches against other trainers.

The expansion paths are different for Sword and Shield, so each version will get a different armored rival. Avery, who likes psychic-type Pokémon, fights with the Shield, while Clara, who uses poison types, fights with the Sword. Looks like they should start an EDM music group together.

Overall, the Island of Armor is a cooler, more relaxed environment, and the second land, Crown Tundra (launching Fall 2020), looks a little less pleasant. Once you arrive at Crown Tundra, you'll join the Arctic Expedition team and roam all over the place. The video showed concept art of the temple and trees appearing where they shouldn't be.

In the Crown Tundra, they will also learn about the legend of Kalirex, a psychic, grass-type Pokémon. The region also offers cooperative play to explore underground dungeons.

The biggest surprise of the entire Pokémon Direct, however, was the news that an old legendary Pokémon is coming back. It felt like Game Freak was trying to satisfy the demands of fans who said there were not enough classic Pokémon in Sword & Shield.

The updates coming to Pokémon Sword & Shield will be through a link trade with those who do not purchase the expansion pass for $29.99... Allowing them to gain these newly available Pokémon. The clip also mentioned that Pokémon Home will be available next month (February 2020).

However, Pokémon Direct began with something completely different. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, a remake of the 2006 dungeon exploration games Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, will be released on March 6. A demo version will be available on the Nintendo eShop starting today (January 9).