Nintendo has revealed plans to shutter the Global Link service for Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2 come January 14, 2014.
Those of you who don’t spend your every waking minute stalking Scizor through the tall grass may not be familiar with the Pokémon Global Link service. It’s a bit hard to explain, but the key thing you need know about the Global Link system is that it allows players to attach their copy of Pokémon Black 2 or Pokémon White 2 to an online service which gives users the chance to explore new areas (via web browser) and capture ‘mon that would otherwise be much more difficult to find.
If that sounds useful, that’s because it is. Unfortunately the whole thing is being shuttered in just a few months. Specifically, January 14, 2014.
Instead of simply slamming this door shut however, Nintendo is closing the Global Link service to make way for a new, improved Global Link system designed for use with the upcoming Pokémon X and Pokémon Y games for the 3DS. According to Nintendo, players who enjoyed the extant Global Link service will be able to carry over “certain achievements and records” to the new Global Link system. Full details on this have yet to be revealed, but Nintendo claims that more information will come available “in the near future.”
Our thoughts? We welcome a new Global Link service. The existing version of the scheme is all well and good, but there is so much more than Nintendo could do with this kind of online connectivity on the 3DS. The online functionality seen in Animal Crossing: New Leaf adds a ton of replay value to the game, and we hope Nintendo can top itself for the next Pokémon titles. X and Y hit store shelves on October 12, so here’s hoping we won’t have to wait too long to hear Nintendo’s plans for the new service.
Source: Pokémon
