Pokémon Bank: Now Free, Forever Changed
Yes, Pokémon Bank is indeed free to use after the Nintendo eShop closure for the 3DS family of systems. However, there’s a crucial caveat: you must have downloaded the app before the eShop shut down on March 27, 2023. Let’s delve into the details of this significant shift and what it means for Pokémon trainers.
The End of an Era, the Dawn of a New One
The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops closing marked the end of an era for digital game purchases on those platforms. With this closure came significant changes to several services, including Pokémon Bank. Before March 27, 2023, Pokémon Bank required a paid subscription to store and transfer your beloved pocket monsters. Now, it’s free, but with limitations that you should be aware of.
Why the Change? A Matter of Preservation
Nintendo, together with The Pokémon Company, chose to make Pokémon Bank free to preserve the accessibility of older Pokémon for players who wished to transfer them to newer generations through Pokémon HOME on the Nintendo Switch. Without this move, transferring Pokémon from older titles like Pokémon Black, White, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, and Moon to more recent games such as Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus would have been significantly complicated, if not impossible, for many players.
The Catch: Downloading Before the Deadline
The most important thing to remember is that to take advantage of the free Pokémon Bank, you needed to have downloaded the application before the eShop closed. If you missed this deadline, unfortunately, you’re out of luck. The eShop is no longer accessible for downloading new software, including Pokémon Bank.
How to Use Pokémon Bank for Free (If You Already Downloaded It)
If you’re one of the lucky trainers who downloaded Pokémon Bank before the eShop closure, using it for free is straightforward:
- Update the App: Ensure your Pokémon Bank application is updated to the latest version through the eShop before it closed.
- Launch the App: Simply launch Pokémon Bank on your 3DS.
- Start Transferring: You’ll be able to deposit, withdraw, and transfer your Pokémon without any subscription fees.
- Use Poké Transporter: If you plan on transferring Pokémon from older Generation V games (Black, White, Black 2, White 2), you’ll also need the Poké Transporter application, which also became free.
- Move to Pokémon HOME: To move Pokémon to the Switch games, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch and a Pokémon HOME account. This requires the paid version of Pokémon HOME if you intend to transfer more than 30 Pokémon at once.
Pokémon HOME: The Gateway to the Future
Pokémon HOME acts as the central hub for storing and managing your Pokémon across different generations. While Pokémon Bank is now free, transferring your Pokémon from it to Pokémon HOME requires a paid subscription if you have more than the basic 30 Pokémon allowance in HOME’s free tier. This is where The Pokémon Company still generates revenue.
Is It Worth It?
Even if you have to pay for Pokémon HOME, the value lies in the ability to keep your collection alive and use them in newer games. For long-time fans and collectors, this preservation is invaluable. The closure of the eShop, while sad, also highlights how gaming evolves, and how communities adapt and learn within these evolving landscapes. To better understand the mechanics of gaming communities, you may consider looking at the research performed by the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the situation with Pokémon Bank and its free availability:
1. Will Pokémon Bank shut down completely?
Nintendo has stated that Pokémon Bank will not shut down. Even though the 3DS online functionality has been shuttered, Pokémon Bank will still maintain its online services. This allows you to transfer Pokemon from your old 3DS games without any issue.
2. Can I still download Pokémon Bank?
Unfortunately, no. Pokémon Bank is no longer available for download on the Nintendo 3DS eShop since its closure on March 27, 2023. If you didn’t download it before then, you can no longer obtain the app.
3. Does Pokémon Bank still need a subscription?
No, you no longer need a subscription to use Pokémon Bank if you downloaded the application before the eShop closed.
4. How long is Pokémon Bank free?
Pokémon Bank is free indefinitely, or until Nintendo decides to discontinue the service entirely. However, they have committed to maintaining the service for the foreseeable future to allow transfers to Pokémon HOME.
5. What happens if I didn’t pay for Pokémon Bank before it became free?
Before the eShop shut down, if your Pokémon Bank subscription expired and you didn’t renew it, your Pokémon would be held for a certain period before being deleted. Now that it is free, this risk is nullified.
6. How do I transfer money from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME for free?
You don’t transfer money. To move your Pokémon from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME, you use the transfer service within Pokémon Bank on your 3DS. Then, use Pokémon HOME on the Nintendo Switch and follow the instructions to receive the transferred Pokémon. However, it is free only when you have 30 or fewer Pokémon.
7. Can I have 2 3DS consoles with the same Nintendo Network ID and use Pokémon Bank on both?
No, you cannot link the same Nintendo Network ID to multiple 3DS consoles simultaneously. You will need a separate account for each console if you want to use Pokémon Bank on both.
8. Is Pokémon HOME free on Switch?
Pokémon HOME has a free Basic Plan that allows you to store up to 30 Pokémon and trade, but transferring large numbers of Pokémon from Pokémon Bank requires a paid Premium Plan.
9. What happens to my Pokémon if I don’t transfer them to Pokémon HOME?
Your Pokémon will remain in Pokémon Bank as long as the service is maintained. However, it’s highly recommended to transfer them to Pokémon HOME to ensure their long-term security and usability.
10. Can you transfer illegal Pokémon to Pokémon Bank?
Pokémon Bank has safeguards in place to prevent the transfer of illegal or hacked Pokémon. If you try to transfer Pokémon created by unauthorized means, you could face penalties, including losing access to Pokémon Bank.
11. Why does Pokémon Bank sometimes say “free trial?”
Even though it’s now officially free, Pokémon Bank may still refer to it as a “free trial” internally. This likely stems from the way the system was initially designed with subscription periods. The “trial” now effectively has an extended duration.
12. How do I transfer Pokémon without Pokémon Bank?
If you cannot download Pokémon Bank, you can only transfer Pokémon within the same game or generation using the in-game trading mechanisms or the Global Trade System (GTS), if available. However, these methods don’t allow you to transfer Pokémon between generations without Pokémon Bank and Pokémon HOME.
13. How much did the Pokémon Bank subscription cost before it became free?
Before it became free, Pokémon Bank cost $4.99 USD per year.
14. Is Pokémon Bank worth it now that it’s free (assuming I downloaded it before the eShop closed)?
Yes, Pokémon Bank is now incredibly valuable if you downloaded it. It provides a free and convenient way to store and transfer your Pokémon from older games to Pokémon HOME, ensuring your collection is preserved.
15. What is Poké Transporter?
Poké Transporter is a companion application to Pokémon Bank that is used to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 into Pokémon Bank. It also became free upon the eShop’s closure, and it required players to have downloaded it before the eShop closed.
Conclusion
The transition of Pokémon Bank to a free service is a welcome change for Pokémon fans. While the eShop closure is regrettable, Nintendo’s decision to make Pokémon Bank free ensures that players can continue to preserve and transfer their beloved Pokémon to newer generations. Remember to check the Games Learning Society website for insights into how games impact learning and engagement at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Take advantage of this opportunity to reunite with your virtual companions and embark on new adventures in the world of Pokémon.