Plenty of Pokemon Sword and Shield’s features were divisive among series fans, but the soundtrack certainly wasn’t one of them. From rival Bede’s battle theme to the beloved Galar Gym Leader battle theme, Sword and Shield was packed with punchy tunes that quickly became fan favorites. It’s only now that fans will finally be able to purchase the official soundtrack for themselves, four years after the games initially released.
Main series Pokemon games typically see their soundtracks released as official CDs not long after their release in Japan, with official digital releases made available for international audiences later. For reasons unknown, this tradition stopped with the release of Sword and Shield in 2019. Earlier today, however, Japanese company Overlap Inc. announced that the Sword and Shield official soundtrack CD will release on Pokemon Day, February 27, 2024.
The soundtrack CD will include music from Sword, Shield, The Isle of Armor, and The Crown Tundra, with a total of 142 tracks. Also included will be a 24-page all-color booklet. Previous games’ soundtrack booklets generally contain game artwork as well as developer and composer commentary.
Soundtrack CDs for Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will also be released at the same time. Legends: Arceus’s soundtrack will include 110 music tracks and a 28-page booklet, while Scarlet and Violet’s will have a whopping 208 tracks and a 36-page booklet. The Scarlet and Violet soundtrack will also include tracks from The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk DLC.
As of now, these releases are slated for Japan only. The Sword and Shield and Legends: Arceus soundtracks will retail for 3,850 Yen each (or approximately US$27) while the Scarlet and Violet collection retails at 4,950 Yen (approximately US$35). Interested parties with the option to order from the Japanese Pokemon Center website can pre-order all three for 12,650 Yen (approximately US$88). These bundles will come with an exclusive slipcase to fit all three CD cases, although the design for the slipcase has not yet been revealed.
Considering previous Pokemon game soundtracks have been released digitally for international audiences, these soundtracks will probably make their way out of Japan in due time. It may even be a major point of interest during 2024’s Pokemon Day. In the meantime, it’s fantastic news for fans that the Pokemon series soundtracks are finally making a comeback.
