Black and White took multiplayer on the Nintendo DS further than ever: infrared built into the cartridge, worldwide trades, ranked battles, the Dream World. Most of these online services shut down in 2014. Here is what they offered, and what you can still do today.
🌐Wi-Fi and the GTS
At the Wireless Club and Wi-Fi Club counters in Pokémon Centers, you could trade and battle with players around the world. The GTS (Global Trade Station) let you deposit a Pokémon while specifying the one you wanted in return: an unmatched way to complete your Pokédex and get the other version’s exclusives. It came with random and ranked battles, managed through the Pokémon Global Link.
📶What still works
- Infrared, built into the cartridge: two consoles side by side can trade or battle in an instant, from the C-Gear.
- Local wireless at the Pokémon Center, between two nearby consoles, for trades and battles.
- The Entralink, to visit a nearby friend’s game and complete missions there.
- Forward transfer: Pokémon from Black and White can still make their way to Pokémon HOME via Poké Transporter and Pokémon Bank, if those apps are already installed on your 3DS.
