News about the the Let's Go games' online connectivity was a bit muddled; originally it had been announced the game would not utilize Nintendo Switch's online service, leading some to believe the game would be offline-only. At a Q&A session after the conference, however, designer Junichi Masuda said the game would feature both local and Wi-fi play.
We've now received clarification from The Pokémon Company regarding the Let's Go games' online situation. In a statement to Game Informer, the company said both games will have online capabilities, but they'll be limited compared to previous Pokémon games. Players will only be able to battle and trade Pokémon with their friends. "There is no GTS, Wonder Trade, or Battle Spot (Rating Battle, Free Battle, and Online Competition, etc.)," the company said. Players will also need to sign up for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to access them.
The Pokémon Company also said it would provide additional details at a later date.