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Pokémon Sword and Shield needs 10.3 GB of storage to download

It’s more than double the size of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go, Pikachu!

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a Dynamax Eevee in an arena in Pokemon Sword/Shield Game Freak/Nintendo

Based on the download cards for Pokémon Sword and Shield that have started to appear in stores, the game will need 10.3 GB of free space to download onto your Nintendo Switch.

For context, here’s a list of some of the file sizes of Nintendo Switch games:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — 13.4 GB
  • Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Let’s Go, Eevee! — 4.1 GB
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — 8 GB
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (with DLC) — 16.9 GB
  • Splatoon 2 (with Octo Expansion) — 7.2 GB

That said, this will be the biggest Pokémon game to date, and while it won’t be the biggest Nintendo Switch game (there are many bigger), the game will have tons more content than the two Let’s Go games.

We already know the game features an open world section called the Wild Area, as well as new Pokémon and new Galarian forms of older Pokémon. Even without a national Pokédex, the regional ‘dex is looking like one of the biggest we’ve seen, which likely contributes to the games’ size.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be released on Nov. 15 for Nintendo Switch.

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