Great news for Pokémon players on the 3DS! A new update for the Pokémon Bank now allows players to transfer all their captured Pokémon from earlier 3DS games and bring them into the upcoming titles Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon.
Pokémon Bank
The Pokémon Bank, according to Tech Times, is a cloud-based 3DS app that allows players to 'deposit' the Pokémon that they caught in earlier 3DS titles (Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon X, and Pokémon Y) into internet-based storage boxes, also allowing them to "withdraw" the same Pokémon into the said titles.
With the new update, set to be released in January 2017, players will be able to bring their beloved Pokémon from the aforementioned titles into the new and upcoming Pokémon titles. The bank will be able to hold up to 3,000 Pokémon, giving players a huge roster of Pokémon available for playing.
Pokémon Transporter
What's more, the Pokémon Transporter will also be updated, allowing players to deposit first-generation Pokémon from the Virtual Console re-releases of Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, and Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition.
This is a one-way trip, however, as players would not be able to withdraw Pokémon back into the re-releases. Better think twice before depositing that Charizard you have trained or that Mewtwo you have had a hard time catching.
Nintendo noted in the Pokémon official page that the Pokémon deposited from the Virtual Console versions cannot be withdrawn to Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon X, and Pokémon Y. In addition, the items that the Pokémon is holding cannot be deposited into the Bank. Items that were held by Pokémon at the time of deposit will be sent back to the original game.
Pokédex feature
Along with the update for the Pokémon Bank comes the new Pokédex feature, which will allow players of Pokémon Sun and Moon to see information regarding previously-caught Pokémon from other titles - even if those Pokémon cannot be found in the new Alola region.
Nintendo said that usage of the Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Transporter comes with an annual fee of £4.49 (about $5.82 USD).