Although Nintendo ended active support for its 3DS handheld and the 3DS eShop some time ago, several services on the platform continued to operate — most notably Pokémon Bank, the cloud storage app players have used for years to archive and move Pokémon between older titles and later 3DS releases. That remaining functionality will end in the near future, according to an announcement from The Pokémon Company.
The Pokémon Company has confirmed that Pokémon Bank will be officially discontinued on February 27, 2027. After that date, the service will no longer allow transfers from Pokémon Bank into Pokémon Home, and any ability to move Pokémon using the Bank will be permanently removed. Trainers who still have Pokémon stored in Bank should transfer them to Pokémon Home well before the shutdown to avoid losing access. Pokémon Home itself will remain available and is not affected by the planned closure of Pokémon Bank.
In related news, The Pokémon Company also revealed that support for Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen will arrive for Pokémon Home when those games are released on the Nintendo Switch eShop this October. Players will be able to transfer Pokémon from these classic Game Boy Advance titles into Pokémon Home, but transfers will be strictly one-way: once Pokémon are moved out of FireRed or LeafGreen, they cannot be returned, and it will not be possible to import Pokémon from other games back into those two titles.
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As an extra incentive, players who complete the Pokédex in FireRed or LeafGreen on the Switch will receive a mythical Celebi in the mobile version of Pokémon Home. That reward offers a neat bridge between the classic games and modern services, and it gives collectors an added reason to explore the re-releases on the eShop.
Pokémon Bank first launched in 2013 in Japan and arrived in North America in 2014. For many players it served as a reliable, cloud-based storage solution, holding up to 3,000 Pokémon across supported titles and allowing transfers from compatible physical and digital game copies. Over the years it became a central feature for preserving collections and moving long-captured Pokémon into newer releases.
With Pokémon Bank’s scheduled retirement, the recommended migration path is clear: move your Pokémon to Pokémon Home now. Pokémon Home supports a wide array of modern Pokémon titles and provides ongoing integration with current and future releases. By transferring stored Pokémon early, players avoid a last-minute rush and ensure their collections remain accessible. Take note of any time-limited or one-way transfer restrictions and plan accordingly so you do not unintentionally lock a Pokémon into a title you no longer want it in.
For those who still rely on Pokémon Bank for long-term storage, now is the time to review what’s in your boxes. Check for rare or sentimental Pokémon, verify items or nicknames you wish to preserve, and confirm that your Pokémon Home account has enough space and the appropriate subscription level if needed. Moving Pokémon ahead of the February 27, 2027 deadline will prevent surprises when the Bank service goes offline.
In summary: Pokémon Bank will close on February 27, 2027. Transfers from Bank to Pokémon Home must be completed before that date. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen support will arrive on the Switch eShop this October with one-way transfer capability into Pokémon Home, and completing the Pokédex in those re-releases will award a Celebi in Pokémon Home. Plan your transfers now to protect your collection and make the most of the upcoming features tied to the Switch releases.