The Pokémon Company has announced that the Nintendo 3DS application Pokémon Bank will cease operations in 2027. Support for the long-running storage service will officially end on February 25, 2027, at 7 p.m. PST.
Launched in Japan in 2013 and internationally in 2014, Pokémon Bank allowed players to store Pokémon from various 3DS titles and transfer them to other compatible games. While the service initially required a subscription, it became free for existing users after Nintendo shut down the 3DS eShop in 2023. The Pokémon Company advises all users to transfer any Pokémon stored in Bank to its successor, Pokémon Home, before the service closure.
Once Pokémon are moved from Bank to Home, they cannot be transferred back. The process can be complex, and a Polygon guide offers assistance for users undertaking the transfer. An update to Pokémon Home in October will increase the deposit limit for Premium Plan subscribers to 9,000 Pokémon, potentially easing the migration.
The impending shutdown has elicited somber reactions from fans, who view it as another instance of digital preservation services being discontinued. Pokémon's significant role in many gamers' formative years has fostered deep attachments to the creatures, making their long-term preservation a concern for the community.