Produced in 1998 by Nintendo and released in Europe in 1999, the Pokémon Red and Blue (and Yellow, shortly after) game cartridges are, after more than 25 years, starting to reach the end of their battery life and thus their ability to maintain game saves.

To remedy this, there is only one solution: replace the battery. A CR1616 battery, to be exact, as mentioned on the circuit on the top right.

A new battery for each cartridge, some desoldering braid, tools to resolder afterward, and tweezers to avoid burns, and you’re ready to go.

Note: if done this way, the save file on the cartridge will be lost. Make an external backup before!

Clean everything up…

Two small solder points…

Done three times, cleaned, reassembled, and they are ready for another quarter-century.