The Pokémon Company has announced the impending shutdown of Pokémon Bank, a Pokémon storage app for the Nintendo 3DS. The service, which was originally launched in 2013, is slated to cease operations on 26th February 2027. Users are advised to begin transitioning their Pokémon to newer games if they have not yet done so.
End of an Era for Pokémon Bank
Pokémon Bank was introduced to facilitate the migration of Pokémon from earlier titles such as Black & White, Black & White 2, X & Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, and Sun & Moon to a centralised hub. This feature has been invaluable for many players, particularly those involved in competitive gaming and shiny Pokémon hunting. Despite the long service period, its access became limited after the closure of the 3DS online store in 2023, which resulted in the delisting of Pokémon Bank, although support for it continued.
Moving Forward with Pokémon Home
For players seeking a modern equivalent of Pokémon Bank, Pokémon Home, released in 2020, remains a viable solution. It provides compatibility not only with the Nintendo Switch games but also with the upcoming Switch ports of FireRed and LeafGreen starting October 2026. The Pokémon Company encourages users to transfer any Pokémon from the Bank to Home before the service termination to prevent permanent loss.
Deadline and New Features
According to an official statement, Pokémon Bank will officially discontinue service on Thursday, 25th February 2027, at 7pm PST. After this deadline, transferring Pokémon to Pokémon Home will no longer be possible, making early migration imperative. Alongside this announcement, the upcoming compatibility of FireRed and LeafGreen with Pokémon Home raises expectations about potential ports of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, although such plans have yet to be confirmed.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.