A new Pokemon release allows players to trade their critters from their Game Boy Advance consoles to the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the franchise, and yet there are not many official ways to move Pokemon between games other than online trading or Pokemon Home, with some consoles and games being completely cut off. This problem is very noticeable in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, for example, as Pokemon fans need all the unobtainable Gen 3 critters to fill their Pokedex.
This is such an issue in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen that players have been calling for the OG Gen 3 games to become ports as well. According to leaks and datamining, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire will launch on Switch and Switch 2 soon, with some claiming that the games will release this month. So far, this hasn’t been the case, but the hints are stacking up. A new Pokemon Home update seems to suggest that Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald will all come to the Switch. If this doesn’t pan out, fans can at least break out of jail their GBA critters.
Pokemon Stuck on GBA Can Now Be Ported to Switch and Switch 2 With New Release
Pokemon fan Drewworks shared a post on Twitter to promote their new device, called RetroSync, which allows players to move Pokemon from the Game Boy Advance to Switch and Switch 2. The device will be released and available for purchase in December 2026. It’s worth noting that, as pointed out by other fans and the creator themselves, Drewworks’ RetroSync will transmit the correct data to Switch and Switch 2, but the moved Pokemon will most likely not be considered legal for battles in Pokemon Champions or VGC in general. This is because it’s not an official device, which means that Pokemon transferred this way won’t be 100% legit for battling or making eggs, for example. However, this device is yet another reminder that Pokemon Bank shutting down in 2027 is a major issue for compatibility between older games and modern ones.
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This will even have major implications, such as a full Pokemon living Dex being impossible without Pokemon Bank. Drewworks’ device is great for helping players transfer their beloved critters from old consoles and games to the Switch and Switch 2, as there is currently no other way to do so. The device does not support the original Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, though, as these games do not support the Wireless Adapter communication feature that Emerald and FRLG do, so one needs to move critters to these games first in order to then move them to the Switch.
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Whether more official platforms to move Pokemon from old games to modern ones are announced remains to be seen, but for now, there doesn’t seem to be anything on the horizon. Pokemon Home added support for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, including a free Celebi for completing the Kanto Pokedex, though.
This is a good sign because the platform now has a “GBA games” section that bodes well for OG Gen 3 ports. If those are indeed released, then there is hope that more ports will hit the Switch and Switch 2 in the near future. For now, the next official launch is Pokemon Winds and Waves‘ release in 2027.
