Following the recent shutdown of online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, a wave of concern swept through the Pokemon community as fans wondered about the fate of Pokemon lingering in the Global Trading System (GTS) post-closure. Reports emerged that any Pokemon left behind in the GTS were irretrievably lost, leaving many fans disheartened.
The closure of online services on April 8 marked a significant moment for Nintendo enthusiasts, signaling the end of an era for the 3DS and Wii U systems. This shutdown, which came after the closure of the Nintendo eShop for 3DS and Wii platforms over a year ago, affected a wide range of games, including beloved Pokemon titles spanning the sixth and seventh generations. Consequently, online features such as the GTS, Player Search System (PSS), and Wonder Trades on the 3DS became defunct.
In the wake of the shutdown, some Pokemon aficionados rushed to their 3DS consoles for one last hurrah, engaging in final transfers of their cherished Pokemon across generations and engaging in battles on titles like Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. On social platforms like Reddit, users like WolverineFamiliar740 shared poignant moments of bidding farewell to the GTS and PSS functionalities, with some sharing stories of Pokemon like an Azurill meeting a tragic end as a result of the service discontinuation.
Despite the discontinuation of 3DS and Wii U online services, Pokemon Bank continues to operate for those who had it installed before the closure of the 3DS eShop in 2023. However, The Pokemon Company has advised trainers to promptly shift their Pokemon from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon Home to prevent any loss of access to their Pokemon still residing in the former application. Notably, the transition from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon Home necessitates a Premium Plan subscription, starting at $2.99 per month.
With the cessation of 3DS online functionalities, concerns loom over the fate of certain Pokemon that cannot be transferred to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet via Pokemon Home, potentially rendering them unattainable. As Pokemon Legends: Z-A looms on the horizon, fans anxiously await to see if these abandoned Pokemon will find their way back into the series.