The era of the Nintendo 3DS-based Pokémon Bank is coming to a close. The Pokémon Company has announced that the application will terminate its services on February 25, 2027, at 10:00 p.m. EST. This shutdown effectively severs the direct transfer path for creatures originating from Generations 3 through 7, meaning any Pokémon left in the application after this date will no longer be movable to Pokémon Home or subsequent Nintendo Switch titles.
In preparation for this transition, the company is expanding the utility of modern titles. Beginning this October, the Nintendo Switch digital releases of Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version will gain compatibility with Pokémon Home. Players who link these titles to the cloud service will receive the mythical Pokémon Celebi as an incentive. While this allows for one-way migration into the modern ecosystem, the company reiterated that once transferred, these Pokémon cannot be returned to their original game files.
Alongside these changes, the Pokémon Home Premium Plan is receiving a significant capacity upgrade. Users will now be able to deposit up to 9,000 Pokémon, a 3,000-unit increase from the previous limit, without any adjustments to the current subscription pricing.
Since the closure of the 3DS and Wii U eShops in 2023, access to Pokémon Bank has been limited to those who previously downloaded the software. With this final shutdown date now set for early 2027, the franchise is effectively consolidating its long-term storage strategy entirely into the Pokémon Home ecosystem, which currently supports connectivity across recent Switch hits like Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and the recently released Pokémon Champions.
