Back in November 2020, Nintendo dropped a special Pokébomb: Pokémon Sword and Shield + Expansion Pass in a physical cartridge form. It wasn’t just another repackage—it bundled the base game with both DLC expansions, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, on a single cartridge.
For Pokémon collectors and convenience lovers alike, it was a dream come true. No need to mess with downloads or eShop codes—just pop it in and catch away. But as of now, it’s becoming less of a convenient bundle and more of a hidden gem.
With limited print runs, increasing rarity, and a digital future looming, this particular cartridge may be leveling up in value faster than a Lucky Egg-boosted Blissey.
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+ 4First things first: this version of Sword and Shield wasn’t mass-produced like a regular Pokémon mainline game. It was quietly released and barely marketed—seriously, it felt like Nintendo whispered its existence into the wind and hoped only the chosen few would hear it.
Retailers didn’t stock it in bulk in fear that since players have already played the DLC, they wouldn't bother buying the physical ones anymore, and many stores only got a handful of copies (if any).
Compared to the tens of millions of standard Sword and Shield cartridges sold, this version is a much rarer beast. Think of it as the Shiny Galarian Rapidash of physical Pokémon releases.
click to enlarge+ 4Since its release, this elusive cartridge has already started creeping up in value. Once retailing for around $90, it now routinely fetches $120–$150 sealed, sometimes more for pristine or collector-graded editions.
Even used copies have started hitting the triple-digit mark. What was once a convenient option is now a hot commodity.
And as the years tick on, fewer copies remain in circulation—some unopened, some tucked away in collectors’ vaults, others gathering dust in the back of someone’s Switch case like forgotten TMs.
click to enlarge+ 4But here’s where things get even more interesting: the future. Nintendo has already announced plans to gradually shut down the 3DS and Wii U eShops, and while the Switch is still safe for now, its time will eventually come.
When that happens, Sword and Shield players will no longer be able to buy the Expansion Pass digitally. That means no more Isle of Armor, no more Crown Tundra—unless you already bought them or you’ve got the all-in-one physical copy.
Once digital doors close, this cartridge might become the only legitimate, hassle-free way to access the complete Gen 8 experience.
Adding fuel to the Pokéfire is Nintendo’s growing shift toward digital distribution with the Nintendo Switch 2. As each new generation pushes closer to cloud saves and download-only games, physical releases like Sword and Shield + Expansion Pass become increasingly special—and increasingly scarce.
click to enlarge+ 4Collectors love tangible relics of the past, and players nostalgic for the “plug-and-play” simplicity of old-school gaming are going to treasure these bundles even more.
So, is the Pokémon Sword and Shield + Expansion Pass physical copy about to get rarer? Absolutely. Its limited production, rising value, future digital scarcity, and Nintendo’s digital-first trajectory all point to one inevitable outcome: this cartridge is evolving into a collector’s crown jewel.
If you’ve got one, hold onto it like it’s a Master Ball. If you don’t, well…better start hunting. This one’s not going to show up in the tall grass for much longer.