Pokémon Bank Shutdown Means Losing Classic Features from Older Games

Yesterday, The Pokémon Company revealed that it will officially discontinue support for Pokémon Bank, the cross-generation storage system that linked games from the GBA era to the latest titles on the Switch 2. While trading Pokémon between older games may seem like a niche activity now, it has been a cherished part of many fans’ experiences over the past 30 years. This decision not only stirs nostalgia but also means that certain features and completionist elements in older games will become inaccessible for current and future players.

Once a hallmark of the series, cross-generation trading allowed players to feel as if their Pokémon adventures spanned multiple regions. For instance, features in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, like the Alola Photo Club, encouraged trading Pokémon from earlier games to unlock unique backgrounds for photoshoots. These backgrounds were tied to environments from previous titles, requiring players to use Pokémon from those games to access them.

Another impacted feature is the Ribbon system, which awards items to Pokémon for specific achievements, such as defeating the Elite Four in various regions. These Ribbons remain with a Pokémon regardless of the game they’re in, allowing for a record of their cross-generation journeys. Without Bank, many of these Ribbons will only be transferable within a limited selection of games, locking away titles earned through various in-game accomplishments.

The shutdown of Pokémon Bank is a significant setback for the ribbon-collecting community. Many players strive to create “ribbon masters,” selecting a Pokémon to collect every possible ribbon across the games. With this change, numerous ribbons will now be out of reach.

Additionally, if you’re aiming to obtain a Pokémon with the title “The Living Legend,” you’ll need to act fast, as it will no longer be available once Pokémon Bank goes offline.

Fans have started compiling lists of Pokémon and other unique traits, moves, and abilities that will be lost in modern Pokémon games after Bank shuts down. While casual players may not feel the impact as strongly, for a series that has thrived on cross-generation connectivity for decades, these losses represent a significant and bittersweet change. Pokémon Bank is set to close on February 25, so if you have Pokémon you wish to transfer to newer games, be sure to check out the detailed guide on how to do that.