Pokémon Home

Pokémon HOME launched on February 12, 2020, as a unified cloud service designed to manage and transfer Pokémon across the franchise's compatible titles. Developed and published by The Pokémon Company, the application acts as a digital bridge between generations of games, allowing trainers to move creatures from older Nintendo 3DS titles through to the latest Nintendo Switch releases.

The service operates on a freemium model where users can store up to 30 Pokémon in the free Basic Plan or expand their capacity with a Premium subscription. Beyond simple storage, it facilitates trading through the Wonder Box and Global Trade Station (GTS), enabling players to exchange Pokémon with others worldwide without needing a local connection.

By August 2026, the platform became the sole official method for migrating data following the announcement that its predecessor, Pokémon Bank, would cease operations in February 2027. This transition solidified HOME as the primary archive for preserving legacy collections, especially after it added support for the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen remakes later that year. [edit]

Players interact with the app to organize their vast collections into boxes accessible from any linked device. The core loop involves depositing Pokémon from supported games like Pokémon Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus, and Scarlet and Violet into the system. Once stored, these creatures can be withdrawn into different titles provided they meet specific compatibility rules regarding movesets and species availability.

Mobile versions introduce unique social features such as the Wonder Box, where users leave a Pokémon to receive a random one in return, and the GTS for targeted trades based on specific criteria. A gamified element called Home Points rewards deposits with items like Rare Candies or Technical Machines, which can then be used directly within the main series games. [edit]