Pokémon Bank Delayed

Pokémon Bank (ポケモンバンク) and Poké Transporter (ポケムーバー) launched yesterday on the Nintendo 3DS eShop in Japan but not too long after, the entire Nintendo Online Service had massive issues as it was overloaded with people attempting to access it for eShop downloads as well as updating their new systems they got for Christmas. As people received new Wii U and 3DS's as presents, most of those required firmware update downloads. In combination with people attempting to create new Nintendo Network ID's, the Nintendo Network Service was overloaded. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company International have also posted an announcement regarding the delay.


Nintendo of Japan announced that they have temporarily removed Pokémon Bank from the Nintendo 3DS eShop to help lower the server issues. Players that were able to download the application will not be able to use it as its related services are down also. Nintendo of America did post their weekly press release for new downloads and it does state that Pokémon Bank is one of the available downloads. Release dates for both regions are currently unknown.

Pokémon Bank Announcement

Release of Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter postponed due to a large volume of traffic to the Nintendo Network service

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company International have postponed the launch of Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter - two software applications that were originally scheduled to launch for Nintendo 3DS on Dec. 27 - due to a large volume of traffic to the Nintendo Network service. Due to the high traffic, players are having trouble setting up Nintendo Network IDs and downloading content in the Nintendo eShop on both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. We truly regret the inconvenience, and wish to reassure everyone that providing a solution is our top priority. We apologize for the delay and thank you for your continued patience.

Source: http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2393/p/430

Press Release - Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS - Pokémon Bank – Pokémon Bank is an application and service for Pokémon X and Pokémon Y that allows you to deposit, store and manage your Pokémon in private Boxes on the Internet. Pokémon Bank will be available on Dec. 27 with a free, 30-day trial for everyone who downloads and activates it prior to Jan. 31. After that, Pokémon Bank will be a paid service, with an annual subscription fee of $4.99.

Sources: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/network/en_na/network_status.jsp and http://www.nintendo.co.jp/support/information/2013/1226.html

Rating Battles Season 2

To coincide with the launch of Pokémon Bank and PokéTransporter, the second season of the Pokémon Global Link Rating Battles has now begun. Since PokéTransporter allows players to import Pokémon from Black, White, Black 2 and White 2, this second season will operate very differently from the first.

The rules for the Special Battles in Season 2 is as follows:
The format is Double Battles.
Only Pokémon found in either of the Kalos Pokédexes are allowed, some legendaries excluded.
Pokémon must be obtained in Pokémon X or Y, no Pokémon imported via the PokéTransporter may be used.
Between 4-6 Pokémon between level 1 and 100 may be used.
Pokémon with a level of 51 or higher will have their level reduced to 50.

The launch of this new season was announced on the Japanese Holo Caster. We have set up a subpage listing all Pokémon Holo Caster announcement, complete with English translations of the Japanese announcements, here.

Sources: http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/information/356321fc-2949-45bc-a3ce-b0f8279dc295 and http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/information/edf84885-7f88-4fac-8760-9000b3284a0f.