Will Your Pokémon Vanish? The Truth About Pokémon HOME and Data Deletion
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The short answer is: generally, no. Pokémon stored in Pokémon HOME will not be deleted simply because your Premium Plan expires. However, there’s a significant caveat: you’ll only have access to the first 30 Pokémon you’ve deposited. The rest will remain stored but inaccessible until you renew your subscription. Think of it like a storage unit – you still own the items, but you can’t get to them without paying the rent. This differs from the old Pokémon Bank, which, despite initial concerns, has effectively kept Pokémon safe without active subscriptions. This article will provide a comprehensive look at the nuances of Pokémon HOME’s storage policies, clarifying what happens to your beloved Pokémon when life (or your gaming budget) takes a turn.
Understanding Pokémon HOME Storage
Pokémon HOME is designed as a central hub for your Pokémon from various games. It’s a cloud-based service meant to consolidate your collection across different generations. This service offers both free and paid (“Premium”) plans. The Basic Plan allows you to store up to 30 Pokémon in a single “Basic Box.” The Premium Plan, on the other hand, expands your storage capacity to a massive 6,000 Pokémon across 200 boxes.
The Premium Plan and Accessibility
When you subscribe to the Premium Plan and deposit more than 30 Pokémon, those additional Pokémon are essentially “locked” away if your subscription lapses. They are not deleted. They simply become inaccessible until you resubscribe to the Premium Plan. Upon renewing your subscription, all your deposited Pokémon will reappear, safe and sound. This is a key difference from other online services, which might permanently delete data after a period of inactivity or non-payment.
Pokémon Bank vs. Pokémon HOME: A Crucial Distinction
It’s important to understand that while Pokémon Bank, the predecessor to Pokémon HOME, caused some anxiety about possible Pokémon deletion, it never followed through with deleting Pokémon. Pokémon HOME seems to follow this trend and clearly delineates between access and deletion. With Bank, the question of deletion after subscription expiry was always somewhat vague, leading to player uncertainty. Pokémon HOME is much clearer – you might not see them, but they are still there.
Hacked Pokémon and “Bad Eggs”
The system does delete Pokémon in certain circumstances. If the service detects Pokémon deemed illegitimate (hacked, genned, or otherwise violating the game’s rules), they may be removed or transformed into “Bad Eggs”. These are corrupted data entries that occupy space in your Pokémon HOME boxes but are essentially unusable. While such occurrences don’t necessarily lead to account bans, they can be a frustrating consequence of attempting to store illegitimate Pokémon. For those interested in the research surrounding gaming and technology, the Games Learning Society offers insightful perspectives on these topics. You can find more information on their website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokémon HOME
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Pokémon HOME and the potential for Pokémon deletion:
1. Why did my Pokémon disappear in Pokémon HOME?
If your Pokémon are not visible in Pokémon HOME, especially after a Premium Plan expiration, they are likely not deleted but rather inaccessible. Check your subscription status. Also, if you are experiencing Pokédex registration issues within the mobile app, clearing the cache may resolve the problem. This is also a great way to try and troubleshoot app problems.
2. How long will my Pokémon stay in Pokémon HOME?
As long as Nintendo maintains the Pokémon HOME service, your Pokémon are expected to remain stored, even if you aren’t actively subscribed to the Premium Plan. However, only the first 30 are accessible without a paid subscription.
3. Will my Pokémon be deleted from Pokémon Bank if I transfer them to HOME?
No, transferring Pokémon from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME removes them from Bank, but it does not delete them. Once in HOME, they are subject to HOME’s storage policies as described above.
4. What happens to your Pokemon if you get Pokemon Home after 2 years of not having it?
Your Pokémon will still be there! Since they aren’t deleted, after you renew your subscription you can still access all of them, provided your HOME subscription has lapsed and you are only on the basic plan.
5. What Pokémon cannot be transferred to HOME?
Certain Pokémon cannot be transferred to Pokémon HOME, including:
- Pokémon wearing clothes that aren’t part of their design
- Spinda
- Lucky, Shadow, and Purified Pokémon (from Pokémon GO)
- Mega Evolved Pokémon and Pokémon in Gyms (from Pokémon GO)
- Rainy, Sunny, and Snowy Castform
- Shock, Burn, Chill, and Douse Genesect
- Origin Giratina
6. Does Pokémon HOME delete Pokémon if you stop paying?
Again, Pokémon HOME does not delete Pokémon when your Premium Plan expires. It simply limits your access to the first 30 deposited Pokémon.
7. What happens if you put a hacked Pokémon in Pokémon HOME?
Hacked Pokémon may trigger a hack check. While this doesn’t always result in an account ban, the Pokémon might be deleted or transformed into a “Bad Egg.”
8. How many Pokémon can Home hold?
The Premium Plan for Pokémon HOME allows you to store up to 6,000 Pokémon across 200 boxes. The Basic Plan is limited to 30 Pokémon.
9. How long do Pokémon stay in Pokémon Bank?
Pokémon Bank is a separate service for the Nintendo 3DS, and although it’s no longer available for purchase, it remains functional, and there’s no indication that stored Pokémon will be deleted.
10. How do I stop paying for Pokémon HOME?
You can cancel your Pokémon HOME Premium Plan through your device’s settings. On iOS, go to Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions. On Android, go to the Google Play Store > Menu > Subscriptions.
11. Why can I only store 30 Pokémon in Pokémon HOME?
The Basic Plan for Pokémon HOME only allows storage for 30 Pokémon in a single “Basic Box.” Upgrading to the Premium Plan unlocks additional storage capacity.
12. Does moving Pokémon to home remove them from the game?
Yes, moving Pokémon from Pokémon Bank or Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME is a one-way transfer. They cannot be returned to their original games after being transferred to Pokémon HOME. There are also some limitations to moving between the Switch games as well.
13. Are hacked Pokemon illegal?
Officially, yes, using illegally obtained Pokémon can lead to disqualifications and bans in official competitions.
14. Can you be banned for having genned Pokemon?
Having genned Pokémon can be grounds for a ban from official competitions, but it’s less likely to result in a permanent account ban. The most likely consequence is expulsion from a specific tournament.
15. Can I refund Pokémon HOME?
Nintendo typically does not offer refunds for Pokémon HOME subscriptions. Be sure to understand the terms of service before subscribing.
Conclusion: Rest Assured, Your Pokémon Are (Probably) Safe
While the digital realm can be fickle, Pokémon HOME appears to be designed with a degree of player reassurance in mind. Although access to your full collection may be contingent on maintaining a Premium Plan subscription, the underlying principle is that your Pokémon are stored securely. The potential issues of hacked Pokémon aside, you should be able to rely on Pokémon HOME as a relatively stable and secure storage solution for your hard-earned digital companions. Just remember to keep an eye on your subscription status and transfer responsibly!