Many Pokemon Sword and Shield players have been anxiously awaiting for the release of the games' first expansion DLC: Isle of Armor. However, due to the current global pandemic with Covid-19, it's very possible that the initially announced June 2020 release date could be pushed back to an undetermined time.
Nintendo and Game Freak's employees have been working remotely like many companies, but Nintendo has released recent comments about the remote work going roughly. With the June 2020 promised release date coming closer and closer, it's very possible that a delay announcement is on its way.
All around the world, workers have been doing their jobs from home. While some jobs are able to be done easily from home, team-based game development can prove to be difficult. While video calling and chat rooms can help with communication, internet connection problems and the lack of a physical person pointing at a screen for feedback makes the experience much more different. Nintendo's comments aside, one big indicator is the fact that May is almost over, June is almost here, and yet there has been no official release date revealed. That doesn't prove there's a delay, but all signs point toward a geniune possibility.
While nothing pertaining to a delay has been announced, it is still certainly possible. If such a delay were to be put in place, then it is also very possible for the Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield Crown Tundra DLC to also be delayed until further notice. If there are bad hiccups going on with development behind the scenes, it would be better to put a delay announcement out rather than attempting to crunch, especially during a pandemic.
With this DLC on the horizon, fans and players also have other worries pertaining to it. Many worry about whether or not these DLC packages contain enough content to warrant their prices and if all Pokemon games in the future will be getting paid expansions rather than a definitive third or fourth game like Pokemon Emerald or Pokemon Platinum. This could sadly make Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon to be the last mainline Pokemon games with definitive editions.
Many Pokemon fans have already been rubbed the wrong way by Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield with the cutting of many Pokemon from the Pokedex and the lack of post-game content. The expansion DLC needs to do a lot in order to get on the right side of many players and fans of the series.
Nothing has been said about the upcoming DLC past the initial announcement, leaving players with plenty of room to speculate about what may appear on the Isle of Armor. If a delay were to come in place, there is also the possibility of even more being added than before, but that is probably just hopeful thinking.
In the meantime, Pokemon fans looking for more Pokemon content can pick up the remake of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX. Players not looking to spend money can also install Pokemon GO on their smart phones where updates and events are currently happening very frequently. There are additionally new features to help players who can't leave home or go far from home still have fun with the game and earn rewards.
Pokemon Sword & Shield are available on Nintendo Switch.