Pokémon Sword beta leaks online featuring Mega Evolutions and Greninja

Pokémon Sword beta title screen — It’s definitely a better title screen than the last one (Image: Twitter)

A version of Pokémon Sword from 2018 appeared online and shows a number of features and Pokemon that were not in the final game.

With The Crown Tundra DLC expansion scheduled for release this week in Pokémon Sword and Shield is close to completion, but an unexpected insight emerged of what it could have been online.

It’s rare for an early copy to leak out of any game, but most importantly anything associated with Nintendo – even though tech developer Game Freak is a separate company.

Exactly where the leak came from is unclear but footage of it was broadcast on Twitch before it and the entire channel was blown from orbit by a Pokémon Company attorney.

Route 7 is found early, and it pre-features early Gigantamax toxicity, with something on top, perhaps early G-Max Pikachu?
When comparing the two they seem almost the same. pic.twitter.com/fXhBG7gFgn

– Caitlyn Molinas (orcastraw) October 22, 2020

Although described as a beta version by dropouts, it actually looks like an alpha, because while some parts of the game are similar to the final versions, others are different or very incomplete.

One of the most interesting parts of the leak is the original Title screen, Which features prominently both the mega-developments and Greninja – although neither the latter is in the final game or any of the DLC.

There have been long-running rumors of massive Sword / Shield developments, as references to the feature were found in the game code. But even though this has been set in the past due to reuse of game code from previous Pokémon titles, the title screen seems to indicate that mega developments were originally intended to appear.

Other discoveries include a new feminine form of Rotom, never made a cut, and the temporary emoji of the Y-Comm communication system – which has already become a fan favorite.

Although there were some pre-existing Pokemon that didn’t make the final game, it didn’t seem like there were any new unused Pokemon or prototypes.

Although we’re not sure what happens with the screenshot below, which appears to show a much larger Pokemon than anything else you encounter in the Wild Area from the final game.