Along with the launch of Pokémon Home, the new Pokémon transfer and management tool, comes a peculiar, yet somehow familiar new character to the Pokémon universe. The newly launched service also allows trainers to transfer Pokémon between various Pokémon titles, connect with others to trade Pokémon through services like Wonder Trade and the Global Trade Station, and to receive mystery gifts directly through their smart device.
Detailed during the January Pokémon Direct presentation, which also unveiled the upcoming paid add-ons for Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Home's arrival also adds the ability to use 35 previously unavailable Pokémon in Sword and Shield. Among these are fan-favorites like Venusaur, Blastoise, Mewtwo, and others – though these are only obtainable through trades or transfers as they do not appear in the wild at this time.
The newest face in the Pokémon world, Grand Oak, who is the host of Pokémon Home – not to be confused with Samson Oak, Professor Oak's cousin, who made an appearance in the Alola region from Pokémon Sun and Moon. Grand Oak sports a long hairstyle, unique glasses, a cool goatee, and a striking resemblance to the good professor who sent many players out on their first Pokémon journeys in the Kanto region. Logging into Pokémon Home will allow players to obtain one of the three Kanto starters from Grand Oak, as well as a Pikachu just for using the app.
Previous Pokémon management applications like the GameCube's Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire and Pokémon Bank on the Nintendo 3DS also featured their own host characters, sisters Brigette and Lanette respectively, who acted as assistants to players hoping to move or store their favorite Pokémon.
In addition to the paid service, which will set aspiring Pokémon Trainers back up to $15.99 for an annual subscription, Pokémon Home can be accessed for free at the cost of limited functionality. Longtime enthusiasts hoping to corral their handheld Pokémon into their mobile device will also be excited to know that Pokémon Bank access on Nintendo 3DS will be free for one month, allowing trainers to bring their favorite creatures home to stay. It is worth noting, however, that transfers made from older titles, including those from Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!, are one-way trips, and that these Pokémon can't be sent back to their games of origin.
Pokémon Home is available now on iPhones, Android devices, and the Nintendo Switch.