Pokémon TCG Pocket Devs Address Trading Issues After Player Backlash

Creatures Inc., the developer behind Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, is actively working to enhance the trading feature that was met with significant backlash upon its release last week. In a statement shared on X/Twitter, the company expressed gratitude for player feedback and acknowledged that while the trading feature was designed to prevent abuse, some restrictions have hindered casual enjoyment of the game.

Creatures Inc. had initially planned to address player complaints by offering required items as rewards in upcoming events. However, the recently launched Cresselia ex Drop Event on February 3 did not include any of these promised items, leaving players disappointed.

The Pokémon TCG Pocket's trading system is part of a broader mechanic that limits players from freely opening packs, using Wonder Picking, or trading without spending real money. Additionally, the introduction of Trade Tokens, which require players to delete five cards from their collection to trade one card of the same rarity, has been a major point of contention. Players find the cost of obtaining these tokens to be excessively high.

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Creatures Inc. explained that the item requirements and restrictions were put in place to curb abuse from bots and multi-account users, aiming to maintain a fair and enjoyable environment for all players. Despite these intentions, the feedback received highlighted that the restrictions are overly limiting the casual enjoyment of the trading feature. In response, Creatures Inc. is exploring ways to improve the feature and plans to introduce multiple methods for obtaining Trade Tokens, including through event distributions.

However, the statement from Creatures Inc. remains vague, lacking specific details about the upcoming changes or their implementation timeline. It also leaves players uncertain about whether they will receive refunds or compensation for trades made under the current system if changes to Trade Token costs are made.

The company's commitment to including Trade Tokens in events seems lukewarm at best. For instance, only 200 Trade Tokens were made available as premium rewards in the Battle Pass update on February 1, which is only enough to trade a single 3 Diamond card. Furthermore, the Cresselia ex Drop Event, which launched today, did not include any Trade Tokens despite promises made the day before.

Many players believe that the trading system is primarily a revenue-generating tool for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before the trading feature was introduced. The inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher further supports this notion, as it forces players to spend money on packs in hopes of obtaining rare cards. One player reported spending around $1,500 to complete the first set, and with the third set arriving just days ago, the costs continue to escalate.

The community has described the trading mechanic as "predatory and downright greedy," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure," reflecting widespread dissatisfaction and frustration among players.