Pokémon Global Link shuts down this fall to prep for Sun and Moon

The Pokémon Global Link system will go offline in late October, according to its official website, ahead of the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon. When it closes, players of Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will lose access to several online features, but The Pokémon Company is already compensating them for the impending shutdown.

Services to be discontinued come October include Game Sync. This feature allows players to share medals and photos online, as well as collect items purchased with Poké Miles, an in-game currency. Players will also be unable to update their activity logs or engage in random matchup rating battles.

Popular features like the Global Trade System and Wonder Trade will remain available, however, and players will still be able to battle each other online and receive Mystery Gifts. These will stay open even after Sun and Moon launch this November.

From now until the Global Link shuts down, Nintendo 3DS owners can spend their Poké Miles on various coveted items for a discount. Rare Candy, Heart Scales and other items are 50 percent off from July 26 until the Global Link's discontinuation in October. Online minigames are also half off during this period.

When the Global Link comes back up, it will be outfitted for Sun and Moon. Yesterday, The Pokémon Company detailed new features coming to the latest games' version of the online system, first introduced for Pokémon X and Y. Among these are local and online competitive battles that are hosted by trainers, who determine the rules for each tourney.

Pokémon Sun and Moon launch Nov. 18 on Nintendo 3DS. Until then, visit the Global Link website for more info on the older games' online features.

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