Pokémon TCG Pocket Gets Trading Today and Players Absolutely Hate It

Pokémon TCG Pocket's highly anticipated trading update, launched today, has been met with overwhelmingly negative feedback, surpassing even the initial concerns voiced last week.

Players are flooding social media with complaints, citing excessive requirements and restrictive limitations. While the restrictions were previously disclosed, the demanding resource consumption was only vaguely hinted at.

Trading necessitates two distinct consumable items. First, players need Trade Stamina, replenishing over time or purchasable with Poké Gold (real money).

The second, and more controversial, requirement is Trade Tokens. These are needed to trade cards of 3 Diamonds or higher. The token costs are steep: 120 for a 3-Diamond card, 400 for a 1-Star card, and 500 for a 4-Diamond (ex Pokémon) card.

Trade Tokens are acquired solely by discarding cards from a player's collection. The exchange rates are unfavorable, requiring the sale of multiple high-rarity cards to obtain enough tokens for a single trade. For example, five ex Pokémon must be sold to trade one. Selling a Crown rarity card (the rarest in the game) yields enough tokens for only three ex Pokémon trades. Even selling a 3-Star immersive art card – a key selling point of the game – doesn't provide enough tokens for a 1-Star or 4-Diamond trade.

Overwhelming Negative Reaction

The player response has been scathing, with many labeling the update a "monumental failure," "hilariously toxic," and a "predatory" money grab. Reddit posts expressing outrage have garnered thousands of upvotes, with players vowing to cease spending on the game. The lengthy process of converting cards to tokens (approximately 15 seconds per card) further exacerbates the frustration. Some players even suggest renaming the game, given the impracticality of its trading system.

The high cost of trading is seen as a blatant attempt to boost revenue for a game that already generated an estimated $200 million in its first month. The inability to easily trade high-rarity cards prevents players from readily completing sets without significant in-app purchases. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.

Creatures Inc. remains silent on the backlash, a departure from their previous response to initial concerns. While they previously stated they would monitor player feedback, the current situation suggests their response has been inadequate. IGN has reached out to Creatures Inc. for comment, but no statement has been released.

Potential improvements, such as adding Trade Tokens as mission rewards, have been suggested. However, it's more likely that Trade Stamina will be rewarded instead, given the game's current reward system.

The launch of this poorly-received trading mechanic casts a shadow over the upcoming update, which will introduce Diamond and Pearl Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia.