''Pokémon Bank'' is an application for the

Nintendo 3DS The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...

which was downloadable from the

Nintendo eShop The is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo eShop served ...

before the discontinuation of the storefront's capabilities for the 3DS. Pokémon Bank allows players to store up to 3,000 Pokémon in an online

cloud storage service A file-hosting service, also known as cloud-storage service, online file-storage provider, or cyberlocker, is an internet hosting service specifically designed to host user files. These services allow users to upload files that can be accessed o ...

. Players can deposit and withdraw Pokémon from both physical and downloaded versions of compatible games, allowing players to exchange Pokémon between them. An additional application called the ''Poké Transporter'' has connectivity with the software, allowing the transfer of Pokémon from ''

Pokémon Black and White and are 2010 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They are the first installments in the fifth generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game series. First rel ...

'' and its sequels to ''

Pokémon X and Y ''Pokémon X'' and ''Pokémon Y'' are 2013 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. They are the first installments in the sixth generation of the main ''Pok ...

'' and ''

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and are 2014 remakes of the 2002 Game Boy Advance role-playing video games ''Pokémon Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'', also including features from '' Pokémon Emerald''. The games are part of the sixth generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game s ...

''. After the release of ''

Pokémon Sun and Moon and are 2016 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. They are the first installments in the seventh generation of the Pokémon (video game series), ''Pokémon ...

'', the software was updated to be compatible with it. Once a Pokémon had been deposited into these newer titles, it could not be transferred back to its original game.

History

Through a variety of methods, Pokémon could be transferred between games. Pokémon Bank and

Pokémon Home is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...

"streamlined" the process through the ultilization of a cloud storage service. One example is that Pokémon from ''

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and are 2002 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. They are the first installments in the third generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game series, also k ...

'' could be sent to ''

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and are role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS in 2006. They are the first installments in the fourth generation of the Pokémon (video game series), ''Pokém ...

'' through the "Pal Park" and then to ''

'' through the "Poké Transfer" processes. Pokémon Bank originally released in Japan in December 25, 2013, but it was removed shortly thereafter due to issues with the

Nintendo Network The Nintendo Network was an online service run by Nintendo that provided free online functionalities for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems and their compatible games. Launched in 2012, it was Nintendo's second online service after Nintendo Wi-F ...

. These issues were caused by unforeseen traffic levels and technical difficulties resulting from the eShop merging account balances. This caused a delay in the release of ''Pokémon Bank'' in other countries and a temporary removal of the software from Japan. Additionally, the ''Poké Transporter'' was also updated to allow players to transfer Pokémon caught in the

Virtual Console The Virtual Console was a line of downloadable retro video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld systems. The Virtual Console lineup consisted of titles originally released on pa ...

editions of ''Pokémon Red'', ''Blue'' and ''

Yellow Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In t ...

'' to ''Pokémon Sun'' and ''Moon''. The update also added an in-app National Pokédex, a feature that was not present in ''Sun'' and ''Moon''. Upon its release, Pokémon Bank had an annual subscription fee, with a free trial option. At some point after the expiration of an annual subscription, Pokémon that were still stored within the application would be deleted. In March 2023, the Nintendo 3DS discontinued the ability to download and purchase new software titles from its eShop. People who had already downloaded ''Pokémon Bank'' before the shop's closure could continue to use the software for free, but new users could not download the application. The successor to Pokémon Bank is

, with Pokémon transferred to Home being unable to be returned to Bank. ''Pokémon Bank'' continues to work after Nintendo has ceased support for online connectivity on the

, but is unclear for how much longer this support may last.

History

Notes

References

See also