Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen get update we've waited for, while Nintendo 3DS app gets shelved

Nothing lasts forever, but it's the end of an era for Pokémon fans as the upcoming Pokémon HOME support for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen is apparently coming at the cost of Pokémon Bank.

With Pokémon being one of Nintendo's big three IPs alongside Mario and Zelda, it makes sense that the gaming giant is looking back through its catalogue of beloved titles instead of just powering ahead with Pokémon Winds and Waves.

Even though Gen 10 is tipped to have the biggest Pokédex to date, there could be some major gaps in your collection. Worse yet, those missing 'mon might be ones you've already collected on your mission to be the very best (like no one ever was).

Saying bye-bye to Pokémon Bank

IIn an official release shared on the Pokémon site, we're asked how our journeys across Kanto are going and are told that the Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen are being linked with Pokémon HOME from October this year.

From next month, you'll be able to ship your collected critters to other games in the series.

More than this, anyone who completes the Pokédex in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will be gifted a Celebi in the mobile version of Pokémon HOME.

The problem is that the company is accused of burying the lede in an article that leads with the benefits of HOME.

October 2026's Version 4.1.0 update will also increase the ability for paid Premium Plan subscribers to deposit up to 9,000 Pokémon when compared to the previous 6,000.

Importantly, the price of the Pokémon HOME Premium Plan remains unchanged.

This isn't without a caveat, because later, we're warned that the ability to transfer your 'mon from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME will end forever on February 26, 2027. With this, you won't be able to store, deposit, or withdraw Pokémon via the application, with fears that any remaining in your Pokémon Bank vault will be lost in the pixelated abyss.

The writing was already on the wall, as in December 2023, the Nintendo 3DS eShop closed its doors and made it impossible for new players to download Pokémon Bank.

Bank also survived Nintendo Network's shuttering in April 2024, but now, the end is nigh.

Angry players have taken to social media to share their outrage, especially as Pokémon Bank's closure permanently severs ties between the older generation of GBA, DS, and 3DS titles with the Nintendo Switch versions.

READ MORE: Pokémon Emerald Ex stuns with 16 Gyms to beat and 479 'mon to catch

Don't say we didn't warn you

Back in 2024, one Reddit thread shared this exact concern when it asked players if they were worried about Pokémon Bank shutting down one day. In particular, there are a handful of older Pokémon that aren't available in Gen 8 and Gen 9 games, including Furfrou, Patrat, and Watchog. More egregiously, the elemental monkeys (Pansage, Pansear, Panpour, and their evolutions) are notably absent.

One furious trainer replied to the announcement on X and wrote: "Nice try attempting to hide this from your player base. One of the charms of Pokemon for years has been the ability to trade up from childhood cartridges and old games. Now you're just planning on ending that? Horrible choice."

Another added: "Please release some alternative way so we're able to transfer stuff from the DS/3DS era of games 😭."

A third raged: "Can you PLEASE increase storage? I’ve been screaming into the void for years now. I have four boxes in Bank that I can’t move over because my boxes are full. I’ll be damned if I can’t move my Pokémon over because you’re shutting down services."

Given the recent backlash that Sony has faced over its disc-free future being accused of killing off game preservation, we wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo did something to try and take the sting out of this news.

It's true that we've got until February 2027 to make sure we've emptied our Pokémon Bank deposit boxes, and while we're sure there will be numerous warnings, that won't stop angry gamers from waving their fists in the air.