Quoted By:
PLA DLC will be part of the Switch Online Expansion pass.
Nintendo moved Game Freak into their HQ in Q1 of 2020. Bigger office for more staff, as well as access to some of their internal development teams. They wanted to end the development troubles GF and TPC had been facing with their games since Gen 6:
X&Y - No end game content. No sequel. ORAS did well due to the already existing story and assets.
USUM - USUM were stop gaps between the end of Pokemon on DS and Switch, the amount of development into them was small, but effective. There were bigger plans for the games, as following Pokémon graphics were
discovered within the build, but never used.
SWSH - Dexit is a good example. It was tough implementing all the Pokémon to the switch along with the concurrent development of LGPE.
BDSP - Handed over to a contract developer (completes IP for other companies), the first time this has been done in the 25 year history of the mainline games This isn't a problem, companies often reuse developed assets to reduce cost, time and complexity. I expect this has been done to help expand the team and their skillsets, something GF had mentioned they wanted to do with their non-Pokemon titles, and the SWSH DLCs - Younger director and team to learn and explore their own creativity with the DLC.
Nintendo wants Pokemon to grow even bigger. It's already the world's largest media franchise, and no doubt Nintendo wants to see one of it's biggest cash cows go from strength to strength. The expansion pass is basically going to be Nintendo's answer to Game Pass by Microsoft, PS now by Sony and various other services by EA and Ubisoft.
Expect all future DLC of direct Nintendo product lines (Animal Crossing, Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Splatoon etc) to be included within this pass, with full games coming within the next 24 months. It's the current model and makes the most sense to companies, it provides a more stable stream of revenue and reduced costs.
