Game Freak's Bold Move After Pokemon Bank Shutdown Leaves Fans Excited for Next Pokemon Game!

Highlights

The imminent shutdown of the 3DS' online functions poses a challenge for Pokemon games as it could result in certain critters being unavailable on the Switch.

Nintendo is urging players to transfer their Pokemon collections from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon Home before the service shuts down permanently. Speculation has arisen that the next Pokemon game may take place in the Unova Region, which could bring good news for Gen 5 Pokemon trapped on the 3DS if they can be acquired in the upcoming game.

The future of the Pokemon series post Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is uncertain due to multiple possible directions for the franchise and rumors of potential future games. One concern that disrupts many players' plans is the upcoming discontinuation of the 3DS' online functionalities, as Nintendo recently announced the closure of the handheld's servers in Spring 2024. With the conclusion of the 3DS' online services marking the end of an era for the series, the next Pokemon game has an evident path to take in order to prevent certain creatures from becoming completely inaccessible on the Switch.

While the software required to transfer Pokemon from the 3DS to Pokemon Home will still be operational temporarily after the rest of the 3DS' online services cease, Nintendo has indicated that Pokemon Bank will not remain online indefinitely and encourages players to swiftly move their collections of creatures to Pokemon Home. As Pokemon Scarlet and Violet do not include a complete National Dex, there is a group of creatures that will remain trapped on the 3DS if not transferred to Pokemon Home prior to the shutdown of Pokemon Bank. Considering that many of these creatures are from Generation 5, the next game should be a return to the Unova region.

The Pokemon Series Needs Gen 5 Remakes Now More than Ever

The majority of the remaining unavailable Mons on the Switch are from the Gen 5 games. Some creatures, like Snivy and Tepig, who are currently not accessible on the Switch, have been confirmed to be included in The Indigo Disk DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. However, there seems to be no foreseeable future availability for others, such as Patrat, Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour, unless Game Freak has plans for new games set in Unova where these creatures can be obtained.

Speculation about the next Pokemon game's location has focused on the Unova Region as the most likely candidate. This speculation has been sparked by a series of rumors and references to the region in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, leading to online discussions among the fan base. Credible leaker Riddler Khu has made cryptic comments suggesting that the next game will be related to Unova in some way. Additionally, The Teal Mask reveals that Blueberry Academy is situated in the Unova Region, and several of its students appear to be relatives of characters from the Gen 5 games.

The Gen 5 Pokemon face the risk of being trapped on the 3DS once Pokemon Bank closes. The nature of the upcoming game remains uncertain. It could be a simple remake of Pokemon Black and White or potentially a sequel in the form of Pokemon Black 3 and White 3. Another possibility is a sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus that takes place in a past version of Unova, following the gameplay style of Pokemon Legends.

These new Unova games must be released soon to prevent any Pokemon from being trapped on the 3DS. While some Pokemon from other generations, like Pikipek and Minior, are confirmed or rumored to be part of The Indigo Disk DLC, the majority of Gen 5 creatures require a new Unova game to ensure their availability on the current Switch platform before they can no longer be transferred.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available for Nintendo Switch.