Pokémon Collecting Revolutionized: The Switch…

While the initial Nintendo Switch era of Pokémon games faced its challenges, it marked a significant maturity in the series’ trading and organization systems. Completing Pokédexes was not always straightforward in remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, as well as new titles like Sword and Shield. However, these games contributed to The Pokémon Company’s development of a more streamlined process for transferring your Pokémon between games or trading with friends. As the franchise prepares for its grand debut on the Switch 2 with the cross-generation title Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it appears The Pokémon Company is gearing up to enhance the trading system even further.

Filling up your Pokédex has always required patience, strategic planning, and an understanding that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company intended for players to trade rather than catch every Pokémon solo. The trading mechanics evolved significantly as the series progressed from the Game Boy to more advanced hardware. By Generation IV (the DS games), players had the ability to trade Pokémon online without needing wired connections. After years where many legendary and mythical Pokémon were exclusive to in-person events, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak implemented a serial code redemption system in Generation V, greatly simplifying the process of acquiring these rare monsters.

Transferring Pokémon captured in older games, such as the GBA’s Pokémon Emerald, to newer titles like the 3DS’s Ultra Sun was often a cumbersome task. However, with each game generation, The Pokémon Company was clearly expanding a digital infrastructure that allowed players to experience their Pokémon journeys as a cohesive, ongoing saga. This effort continued with the Switch era, exemplified by the 2018 Let’s Go titles, which are 3D remakes of Pokémon Yellow that incorporate new mechanics inspired by Pokémon Go.

Similar to the 3DS’s Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter apps, Pokémon Home provided players with a digital storage solution for their Pokémon, facilitating movement between games. Its connection with Bank made it especially beneficial for long-time fans wanting to transfer their beloved Pokémon. At the same time, it aimed to appeal to new players—those attracted to the franchise through games like Scarlet / Violet and Legends: Arceus—encouraging them to build collections that foster emotional and financial investment in the series.

By incorporating subscriptions, Pokémon Home and the online features of the Switch Pokémon games enabled Nintendo to establish itself as a service-oriented company. Following the launch of Nintendo Switch Online in 2018, the company enhanced the service by gradually adding more classic titles and features, like a streaming music app. It has been somewhat frustrating to see Nintendo refrain from making many of its older pre-DS Pokémon titles available online. Yet, reminiscent of Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s strategy of necessitating both versions (e.g., Red and Blue) for completing the Pokédex, this has likely been a deliberate move to encourage players to spend more.

Especially with the inclusion