The Pokémon as far back as Red and Blue, but the eighth generation of games was the first to make its effect an unchangeable fixture, and the mechanic is returning in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Prior to controversial Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee were the first entries to forego the item entirely, instead having the player's party always gain experience points together with no option to disable the feature.
Pokémon news source Serebii reports that previews of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl show it also features permanent Exp. share. Serebii explains there is no toggle to disable the mechanic off, much as it couldn't in Pokémon Sword and Shield. The reception to this decision so far seems to be divided, with some claiming community backlash to permanent experience sharing is overblown and others arguing the decision isn't faithful to the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and will affect the games' difficulty.
Permanent Exp. share may have started with Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, but it didn't seem solidified as a franchise staple until it reappeared in Pokémon Sword and Shield, the latest mainline dual release. Party experience gain was one of several complaints leveled at the titles, along with the missing Pokémon's National Pokédex. Sword and Shield were criticized by some critics and veteran players for making it too easy to over-level Pokémon, which explains why there appears to be hesitance about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl also using permanent Exp. share.
This will likely continue to be a divisive topic in the Pokémon community, with one side bemoaning the hit to difficulty and the other praising how it reduces grinding. Because permanent Exp. share is clearly a matter of preference, many argue it should be an optional feature as it was previously. It would function more as a difficulty modifier in this way, with players that seek an extra challenge reverting to the classic style of experience gain as opposed to the easier difficulty newer Pokémon games provide. It's not yet known for certain how Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will handle Exp. share at release, as developer Game Freak has yet to chime in on the matter.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be available for Nintendo Switch on November 19, 2021.
Sources: Serebii, Serebii/Twitter
