Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Subscription required to trade or battle online in ‘Pokémon: Let’s Go’

By
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! Trailer

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! have the potential to sell a boatload of Nintendo Switch systems this holiday season, but if you’re planning to make it your first game for the system, you’ll want to set aside a little extra cash for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

Recommended Videos

Nintendo Switch Online is the system’s subscription service currently planned for a September launch, and it will be required in order to play online with most games. In the case of Pokémon: Let’s Go, you’ll need a subscription in order to battle or trade online.

Related

“An active membership for the Nintendo Switch Online service, which is scheduled to begin September of this year, will be required to access these features,” The Pokémon Company told Eurogamer in a statement.

The language of the statement also suggests the subscription might be needed in order to trade with another player locally. This would be an odd choice, especially when considering that monsters captured in Pokémon Go will already be transferable to Let’s Go.

The Pokémon Company added that online functionality will be more limited than it is in a typical “core” Pokémon game, with no “Battle Spot” or “Global Trading System.” With catching the monsters taking priority over leveling them up and fighting with them in the game, this makes sense.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! offer a new take on the gameplay introduced with Pokémon Yellow nearly two decades ago. Depending on the version of the game you purchased, you’ll have either Pikachu or Eevee by your site as you explore the famous Kanto region and attempt to capture every Pokémon.

The game uses a motion-control-based capturing system in place of the tougher battle-based system used in the role-playing games, and a special Poké Ball Plus accessory can replace your traditional Joy-Con controller completely. Carrying it with you when you’re out and about will give you other benefits, and it will be compatible with Pokémon Go on mobile, as well. If you have a friend by your side, they can pick up their own controller and help you on your journey.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! are out exclusively for Nintendo Switch on November 16.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
No, Palworld isn’t going to be a ‘Pokémon killer’
Sheep carry guns in Palworld.

We have our first hit video game of 2024, and it's a shocker. The eccentric Palworld, an early access game available now on PC and Xbox Game Pass, is smashing Steam records as developer Pocketpair sells millions of copies. That's thanks in large part thanks to its bizarre elevator pitch, which is succinctly described as "Pokémon with guns."

That success has come with some heated debates. Palworld earned a lot of criticism in its inaugural weekend as players discovered monster designs that looked nearly identical to some of those in Pokémon. Accusations of plagiarism ballooned into suspicions over AI usage that have yet to be proven. An army of already dedicated fans have rushed to its defense with their own over-the-top claims. That army includes disgruntled Pokémon fans who see the new game as an antidote to buggy titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Palworld defenders have already labeled it a "Pokémon killer" and hope that Game Freak learns from its success.

Read more
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s epilogue is a disappointing conclusion
Penny and Arven eat Mochi in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s series of post-launch content finally wrapped up on January 11 with the release of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero's epilogue. Now, having played through it, I find it to be a fittingly odd end to one of the weirdest generations of the Pokémon series ever.

Instead of adding some grand endgame challenges to overcome, this is a story-focused epilogue about a Pokémon that is brainwashing and controlling people through mochi. It’s a cute and comedic horror riff that gives entertaining final moments to the friends players made throughout the main game and DLC’s adventures. Despite that, it’s underwhelming and still subject to the technical problems that have plagued Pokémon Scarlet and Violet since launch.

Read more
All new and returning Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk
A Pokémon trainer holding a glowing Pokémon ball.

It's finally time, trainers. The last DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, The Indigo Disk, will put a firm cap on the latest Pokédex. The DLC not only adds a handful of new critters to the list but also brings back a huge swath of returning favorites from past generations that make exploring Paldea a fresh experience all over again. Your new adventure will have you attempting to solve the mystery of an ancient myth in Kitakami, and perhaps these new Pokémon hold some answers.

Here are all the new Pokémon you can look forward to battling and catching, as well as the list of returning ones to see if your childhood favorite made the cut.
All new Pokémon
Just like in the Teal Mask DLC, this final expansion only adds four new Pokémon. Here's a breakdown of each:
Terapagos
This is the poster child for this DLC, and is going to play a major part of the game's story. Because of its importance, we don't know almost any details about it, including what type it is, except that it does have a Terastal Form.
Raging Bolt

Read more