After the Nintendo 3DS handheld console saw most of its online services, including the online store (eShop), disconnected not long ago, it was only a matter of time before even the remaining paid services disappeared, such as Pokémon Bank which Nintendo has now announced will close on February 25, 2027. The ability to transfer digital pocket monsters, or Pokémon, between physical systems has been a staple of the series since the early days of the Gameboy, when a link cable It was all he needed to trade and catch them all, as they say in the guild. Naturally, over time, this cloud-based aspect made its way into this series as well, starting with the 3DS and continuing on Nintendo Switch in the form of the Pokémon HOME app. With this paid service, an avid Pokémon fan could collect up to 3,000 of these digital critters, move them between various Pokémon games, and generally allow players to keep the same Pokémon with them across games. As pointed out [Kevdog Plays] In an informative video about what to do before closing, the service is free during these last few months. What’s interesting is that certain Pokémon can only be obtained from the 3DS Pokémon games, meaning that without an alternative to this transfer mechanism or these games being available on newer Nintendo consoles, there will always be that gaping hole in the Pokedex. Naturally, this raises the usual questions about software archiving and preservation when an online service is required for a full gaming experience.
