Pokémon TCG Pocket Devs Aim to Enhance Trading After Player Backlash

Creatures Inc., the developer behind the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, is currently "actively investigating ways to improve" the trading feature that was introduced last week and met with significant backlash from the player community. In a recent statement shared on X/Twitter, Creatures Inc. expressed gratitude for the feedback received and acknowledged that their initial intentions to prevent abuse of the trading system have inadvertently hindered casual enjoyment of the feature.

The company had promised to address these issues by introducing required items as rewards in upcoming events. However, the latest Cresselia ex Drop Event, which launched today on February 3, has failed to include any such rewards, leaving players disappointed.

The Pokémon TCG Pocket already imposes several restrictions on players, such as limits on opening packs, Wonder Picking, and now trading, often requiring real-world money to bypass these limitations. The newly introduced trading feature also includes a restriction called Trade Tokens, which have been criticized for their high cost. Players have to delete five cards from their collections to trade just one card of the same rarity, a system many have found to be excessively punitive.

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According to Creatures Inc., "The item requirements and restrictions implemented for the trading feature were designed to prevent abuse from bots and other prohibited actions using multiple accounts. Our goal was 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."

The statement acknowledges that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy the feature as intended." Creatures Inc. is committed to investigating improvements and plans to offer multiple ways to obtain Trade Tokens, including through event distributions. However, the statement remains vague, providing no specific details on what changes will be implemented or when they will be introduced.

This lack of clarity also leaves players uncertain about whether their current trades will be refunded or compensated if the Trade Token costs are adjusted. Those who utilized the feature during its initial days may end up at a significant disadvantage if changes are made.

Furthermore, Creatures Inc. seems reluctant to include Trade Tokens in event rewards. Only 200 Trade Tokens were made available as premium rewards for those paying $9.99 a month for the Battle Pass, enough to trade just one 3 Diamond card, the lowest rarity requiring Trade Tokens. The absence of Trade Tokens in the Cresselia ex Drop Event further contradicts the company's recent promise to integrate these items into event rewards.

The community has voiced concerns that the trading system is primarily designed to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly generated $200 million in its first month before trading was enabled. The inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher reinforces this suspicion, as it forces players to spend money on random packs in hopes of completing their collections. One player reportedly spent around $1,500 just to complete the first set, with the third set arriving just days ago.

Players have described the trading mechanic as "predatory and downright greedy," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure," reflecting the widespread dissatisfaction within the community.