Pokémon Fans Are Worried FireRed and LeafGreen Won't Be Compatible With Pokémon Home, Making the PokéDex Impossible to Finish

IGN

by Rebekah Valentine

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are set to launch on Nintendo Switch next week as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebrations. However, fans are expressing concerns about whether these games will be compatible with Pokémon Home, a cloud-based service that allows players to transfer and store their Pokémon across different games. This compatibility issue is critical because it could impact players’ ability to complete their PokéDex, which has been a central feature of the Pokémon series since its inception. Pokémon Home serves as a hub for transferring Pokémon between compatible games, including newer titles on Switch and even Pokémon GO. For older games like FireRed and LeafGreen, moving Pokémon into Home requires a complex process involving multiple steps and older Nintendo DS systems. If FireRed and LeafGreen are directly compatible with Home, it would simplify the transfer process, allowing players to bypass these cumbersome steps. However, initial mentions of Pokémon Home support on the eShop page for FireRed and LeafGreen were quickly removed, leaving fans uncertain about its availability. The lack of clarity surrounding Pokémon Home compatibility is particularly concerning because it could affect the ability to unlock the National Dex in FireRed and LeafGreen. While completing the Kanto PokéDex through local trading is possible, achieving the full National Dex requires access to a broader range of Pokémon that can only be obtained by transferring from other games. If Pokémon Home isn’t compatible, players might face significant barriers to fully completing their collection. For gaming enthusiasts, this issue goes beyond mere convenience. The ability to seamlessly transfer and collect Pokémon across different titles is a key part of the Pokémon experience, especially for long-time fans who have spent years building their collections. FireRed and LeafGreen’s potential lack of compatibility with Pokémon Home could frustrate players and create obstacles in their quest to achieve a complete PokéDex. In summary, while Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are beloved remakes of classic games, their compatibility with Pokémon Home is crucial for modern gameplay experiences. Fans hope that the rumored support for Pokémon Home will materialize, ensuring smooth transfers and allowing them to continue building their Pokémon collections without unnecessary complexity. The outcome of this uncertainty will have a significant impact on how players engage with these retro titles in the Switch era.

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Originally published on IGN on 2/20/2026