Summary
- The Nintendo shutdown of 3DS and Wii U online services saddened Pokemon fans unable to retrieve Pokemon from GTS before shutdown.
- Despite the shutdown, Pokemon Bank remains active, but trainers are urged to transfer to Pokemon Home to not lose access.
- Pokemon that cannot be transferred to new games via Home will eventually become unobtainable, leaving fans questioning their fate in future titles.
Following the shutdown of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U online services on April 8, some Pokemon fans took to social media to find out what would happen if a Pokemon was deposited into the Global Trading System (GTS) before the shutdown. To their dismay, Pokemon fans reported that any Pokemon left on the GTS were lost forever.
On the evening of April 8, Nintendo gradually shut down online services for the 3DS and Wii U systems, a date long dreaded by Nintendo fans. The shutdown followed over a year after the 3DS and Wii versions of the Nintendo eShop officially closed, and all leftover funds from users were either lost or transferred to a Nintendo Account. The shutdown of 3DS and Wii U online services impacted a variety of titles, including Super Mario Maker, Splatoon, and various Pokemon titles across the sixth and seventh generations. As a result, online functions such as the Global Trading System, the Player Search System (PSS), and Wonder Trades on the 3DS are no longer possible.
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This led some Pokemon fans to turn on their 3DS systems and get in some last-minute generational Pokemon transfers and some battles in games like Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. On Reddit, a user named WolverineFamiliar740 posted a screenshot on the r/Pokemon subreddit of their last moments using the GTS and PSS functions. With their 2DS system in hand, WolverineFamiliar740 shared the error code message that stated online service was discontinued. However, the OP commented that a sad fate fell upon an Azurill they had deposited in the GTS to see what would happen. WolverineFamiliar740 said the Azurill was deleted, and other fans shared their sympathies and some jokes about the situation.
Though the 3DS and Wii U online services have ceased, Pokemon Bank remains active for users who downloaded it to their 3DS systems before the 3DS eShop closure in 2023. However, The Pokemon Company stated in late 2023 that trainers should transfer their Pokemon from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon Home as soon as possible to avoid losing access to any Pokemon that remain in the former app. However, the one-way transfer from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon Home requires a Premium Plan, starting at $2.99 per month.
With the shutdown of 3DS online functions, some Pokemon that cannot be transferred to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet via Home will remain unobtainable. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A in development, only time will tell how many left behind will return to the series.
- Created by
- Satoshi Tajiri
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.