Pokémon Game Transfer Options
Use the toggle to see how the Pokémon games’ transfer options change once
Pokémon Bank’s servers are shut down.
Compatibility Breaks
With the transition from Generation 2 to Generation 3, Pokémon underwent major technical changes on both the software and hardware side. As a result, games from the previous generation were not compatible with the new one, and Pokémon could not be transferred between the generations.
The Nintendo 3DS eShop closed on March 27, 2023, which means it’s no longer possible to download new software from it onto Nintendo 3DS systems. However, software that was downloaded previously remains available and can still be used for transfer purposes.
A complete shutdown of Pokémon Bank would impose major restrictions on Pokémon transfers. Transferring from Generation 5 to Generation 6 relies on the Poké Transporter (PokéMover), which moves Pokémon directly into Pokémon Bank; without Bank servers, that link no longer works. Within the 3DS titles, transfers would then be limited largely to classic in-game trading between titles of the same generation. Transferring from Generation 6 to Generation 7 would no longer be possible. And since the move from the Generation 6/7 era to the Nintendo Switch era is handled via the connection between Pokémon Bank and Pokémon HOME, that transfer option would also be unavailable without Pokémon Bank.
Last updated:
January 23, 2026