Pokemon fans are accusing the developers of being 'lazy' for not including all 1,000-plus Pokemon in the new Nintendo Switch games

Game Freak, the company that develops the Pokémon video games, is quite aware of the controversy. In a June interview with Famitsu, a Japanese gaming magazine, Masuda said that including models for more than 1,000 Pokémon was too demanding a task, and would have made it difficult for the development team to balance the massive roster for fair gameplay. There's also concern that new Pokémon would be overshadowed by fan favorites.

Those familiar with the Pokémon fandom should know that every Pokémon is somebody's favorite. A recent survey asking more than 50,000 fans to pick their favorite Pokémon, and all but four Pokémon received at least one vote.With hundreds of Pokémon to choose from, each averaged about 65 votes.

With fans fearing that their favorite Pokémon could be left out entirely, some have decided to boycott "Sword and Shield" entirely until Game Freak decides to include the full and complete roster of Pokémon, past and present. A common complaint is that the developers are being "lazy" in not including all of the Pokémon.

Suddenly sad. I complete the National Dex every time I get a new Pokemon game, and have ever since I started playing Pokemon as a kid. Never really said my piece on the whole #Dexit thing, but it's like a lot of the fun of "catching them all" is being taken away. Might not buy.

They. Are. Lazy.

There's NO excuse from that. If he had a REAL and REASONABLE reason for #Dexit he would say it.

What part of "Pokémon is the biggest media franchise in the world" you guys don't understand? They have PLENTY resources to hire new developers.

Not all Pokémon fans are torn up over #Dexit — some are looking forward to "Pokémon Sword and Shield" having a curated collection of Pokémon that match the game's new environments. "Sword and Shield" will still have hundreds of Pokémon to collect, and we likely won't know for sure which ones are included until the games are released on November 15th.

Stop harassing Game Freak and the developers (Junichi Masuda in particular) about the lack of a National Dex in #SwordAndShield. They are not "lazy" not are they "greedy". They just know where their priorities are. Also, the name #Dexit is stupid. Stop it.

The Pokémon Company didn't go far enough. Get rid of all the pokémon. Start over completely. Give us a new and polished 150-200 pokémon with detailed HD models. Let the game be its own isolated experience rather than just remaking the same game again. #PokemonSwordShield #Dexit

Masuda issued a followup statement acknowledging fans concerns, but reiterated that Game Freak will not be including every species of Pokémon in "Sword and Shield." Masuda said it was a "very difficult decision" to make, but urged fans to embrace the new games. He clarified that even if some Pokémon don't show up in "Sword and Shield," they could appear in future games.

Here's the full statement posted to the official Pokémon website:

"Thank you to all of our fans for caring so deeply about Pokémon. Recently, I shared the news that some Pokémon cannot be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. I've read all your comments and appreciate your love and passion for Pokémon.

Just like all of you, we are passionate about Pokémon and each and every one of them is very important to us. After so many years of developing the Pokémon video games, this was a very difficult decision for me. I'd like to make one thing clear: even if a specific Pokémon is not available in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, that does not mean it will not appear in future games.

The world of Pokémon continues to evolve. The Galar region offers new Pokémon to encounter, Trainers to battle, and adventures to embark on. We are pouring our hearts into these games, and we hope you will look forward to joining us on this new journey."