Nintendo's announcement that the 3DS eShop would be closing had many worried about what it would mean for Pokémon Bank. Although the service was essentially replaced with Pokémon Home on the Switch, Pokémon Bank is still required for moving 3DS-era (and older) Pokémon between games and systems. Thankfully, Pokémon Bank will still be accessible for the foreseeable future but will be getting at least one major change after Nintendo ends support for the 3DS digital store.
Many people were upset when Nintendo announced it would be ending support of its eShop on 3DS and Wii U since it meant losing access to a number of older games and DLC. Although users won't be able to add funds starting later this year, eShop purchases can be completed until March 2023. Pokémon Bank requires a yearly fee, so many fans who use the service were fearful this would bring an end to their well-earned Pokémon from previous years.
Since the introduction of Pokémon Home on the Nintendo Switch, many people have now used this service for their Pokémon storage instead. This is due to the Move feature, which allows users to import Pokémon from Pokémon Bank into Home. However, if anyone wants to transfer their Pokémon from an older game like Sun and Moon or X and Y onto their Switch, they'll need access to both services, which illustrates just how important Pokémon Bank has remained despite the more recent launch of Pokémon Home.
Pokémon Bank Will Be Free After Nintendo's 3DS eShop Closes
Thankfully, it has since been clarified that Pokémon Bank won't be shutting down and that players can still access their Pokémon once Nintendo ends support of the 3DS eShop. This is because Pokémon Bank will be free after the closure happens. In many ways, this is good news, since it means those who use the service won't have to pay it for it anymore. It's a bit of a silver lining with all the other downsides of the Wii U and 3DS losing their eShop support.
It's worth noting, however, that users will still need Pokémon Home if they want to move their Pokémon onto the Nintendo Switch. While there is a Basic option, users will need a Premium Plan for Pokémon Home in order to transfer their monster friends from Pokémon Bank. Currently, a Premium Plan for Pokémon Home is $2.99 for 1 month, $4.99 for 3 months, or $15.99 for a full year.
Source: Pokémon