The New Year has not been kind to Nintendo or Game Freak, and the lack of any Pokemon Bank release date has reignited the age-old question—is backwards computability still an issue?

In theory, the Pokemon Bank service is the perfect solution to the backwards compatibility issue for new generations of Pokemon.

Whether Nintendo plans to release a remake of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, or the rumored Pokemon Plus and Minus next, Pokemon Bank and the Poke Transporter should always ensure the safety of the Pokemon we've collected since Red and Blue.

But, with each passing week, the issues plaguing a Pokemon Bank release date means that concerns with compatibility and proper transferring of old Pokemon is very much a clear and present danger.

Taking a look at Twitter, it is clear that while Nintendo and Game Freak are ignoring the issue until further notice, fans are far less forgiving.

@Pokemon Would rather take a peek at the Pokemon Bank release date...

— TheHumbleFellow (@TheHumbleFellow) January 21, 2014

Everyday I tirelessly check several sites to see if Pokemon Bank has a new release date... I want my very first starter on X — Rhysent Developments (@RhysWilcox) January 18, 2014

Guys im sure Nintendo will announce Pokemon Bank release date at E3 2014

— The Kishin (@NerdHydraBeast) January 16, 2014

Now, with Nintendo receiving heavy backlash for the Wii U and fans keeping their eyes peeled for a Nintendo Direct, any inaction become an act of defiance against Pokemon fans.

Nintendo will have to announce a Pokemon Bank release date soon, but in the meantime, the problem of backwards compatibility and Pokemon transfer remains.

Even in the new generation, how long will Pokemon fans suffer from the threat of losing their precious (and nostalgic) Pokemon? And if this continues, will it defeat the purpose of "catching them all?"

If you are a Pokemon fan, would you continue to enjoy the franchise even if you couldn't have all your old Pokemon from previous generations?