Pokémon TCG Pocket Devs Address Trading Issues After Player Backlash

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket developer Creatures Inc. is actively working on enhancing the trading feature, which faced significant criticism from players upon its launch last week.

In a recent statement on X/Twitter, Creatures Inc. expressed gratitude for the player feedback and explained that the trading feature was initially designed to prevent abuse. However, they acknowledged that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" the feature. The company promised to address these concerns by offering required items as rewards in upcoming events, though the latest Cresselia ex Drop Event, released on February 3, did not include any such rewards.

The Pokémon TCG Pocket game already limits players' ability to open packs, use Wonder Picking, and now trade without spending real money. The new trading feature introduced an additional restriction known as Trade Tokens. Players have criticized the high cost of these tokens, noting that they must remove five cards from their collection to trade one card of the same rarity.

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Creatures Inc. explained that the trading restrictions were intended to "prevent abuse from bots and other prohibited actions using multiple accounts," aiming to "balance the game while maintaining a fair environment for all players and preserving the fun of collecting cards that is core to the Pokémon TCG Pocket experience."

Despite this, the company admitted that the current restrictions hinder casual enjoyment and stated they are "actively investigating ways to improve the feature to address these concerns." They also plan to introduce multiple methods for obtaining Trade Tokens, including through event distributions.

The statement from Creatures Inc. remains vague, lacking specific details on the upcoming changes or their implementation timeline. It does, however, confirm that the community's concerns are being heard. Players remain uncertain about whether their current trades will be refunded or compensated if the Trade Token costs change.

Creatures Inc. has shown little enthusiasm for including Trade Tokens in events, offering only 200 tokens as premium rewards for Battle Pass subscribers on February 1, which is enough for just one trade of the lowest rarity requiring tokens. Additionally, the Cresselia ex Drop Event, launched today, did not include any Trade Tokens as rewards, despite the company's recent promise to do so.

Fans have criticized the trading system, suggesting it is designed to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before trading was introduced. The inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher further supports this view, as it encourages players to spend money for a chance at acquiring these cards. One player reportedly spent around $1,500 to complete the first set, and a third set was released just days ago.

Players have described the trading mechanic as "predatory and downright greedy," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure."