Fanatics of Pokémon rejuvenate ancient "Rescue Team" program, initially endorsed, aiming to liberate 23-year-old creatures from Game Boy Advance (GBA) generations and transfer them onto Switch platforms.
The Pokémon Rescue Team Returns for the 2025 World Championships
The Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California, is set to host a special event this year: the revival of the Pokémon Rescue Team. This fan-led initiative aims to help players transfer their Pokémon from older games to the Nintendo Switch.
The Pokémon Rescue Team will be available from August 15 to 17, offering their services to players who bring their physical game cartridges from Pokémon games spanning back as far as 23 years. The supported games include Gen 3 GBA titles like Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, as well as Gen 4 DS games such as Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, and Gen 5 DS games like Black, White, Black 2, and White 2.
The transfer process is a complex, multi-step procedure that requires a massive setup of hardware, including multiple DS and 3DS systems. The Pokémon Rescue Team will use these systems to move the Pokémon across generations, eventually transferring them into Pokémon Home for use on current devices.
In addition to the game transfers, the Pokémon Rescue Team will also distribute certain rare downloadable events from past games, helping players complete their Pokédexes by enabling access to hard-to-get Pokémon that were tied to old events. They will even help fans catch specific Pokémon upon request.
This community-led effort is a revival of an older official Pokémon Rescue Team initiative, first introduced by The Pokémon Company (TPCi) in 2017 to help players transfer Pokémon from older games to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The unofficial 2025 event aims to help fans "free" their legacy Pokémon from outdated formats and bring them into current play environments.
Professor Rex, a well-known Pokémon content creator, is involved in the revival of the Pokémon Rescue Team. The team will have all the necessary hardware for Pokémon transfers, including a display case similar to the one seen in old trailers. However, it's worth noting that the Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Transporter apps, needed for moving the Pokémon to Pokémon Home, are no longer officially available.
The Pokémon Rescue Team's services are not limited to the event in California. They also offer help for old events. Professor Rex, in a nod to the controversy surrounding Pokémon Sword and Shield not allowing the entire National Pokédex for the first time in the series, refers to this as DEXIT.
While there were YouTube trailer uploads for the Pokémon Rescue Team event, they no longer exist from official channels. Nevertheless, this fan-led initiative is a testament to the enduring passion of the Pokémon community and their dedication to preserving the legacy of the franchise.
- The Pokémon Rescue Team is set to return at the 2025 World Championships in Anaheim, California, where they will assist players in transferring their Pokémon from older games to the Nintendo Switch.
- The services offered by the Pokémon Rescue Team will be available from August 15 to 17, helping players with physical game cartridges from as far back as 23 years, including Gen 3 GBA and Gen 4 DS titles.
- In addition to game transfers, the team will distribute rare downloadable events from past games, allowing players to complete their Pokédexes and gain access to hard-to-get Pokémon.
- The 2025 event is a revival of an older official Pokémon Rescue Team initiative, first introduced by The Pokémon Company in 2017, aiming to help fans "free" their legacy Pokémon from outdated formats and bring them into current play environments.
- Profession Rex, a well-known Pokémon content creator, is involved in the revival of the Pokémon Rescue Team, and they will have all the necessary hardware for Pokémon transfers.
- Though official YouTube trailer uploads for the event no longer exist, this fan-led initiative is a testament to the enduring passion of the Pokémon community and their dedication to preserving the legacy of the franchise.
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