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 widespread disappointment and criticism from players. Despite developer Creatures Inc. addressing some concerns last week, the implementation has proven even more controversial than anticipated.

Players are flooding social media with complaints, citing excessive requirements and restrictive limitations. While the latter were disclosed previously, the sheer number of items needed for each trade was initially obscured by the vague statement "items must be consumed in order to trade."

Unlike Wonder Pick or booster pack openings, trading necessitates two distinct consumable items. First, players require Trade Stamina, which regenerates over time or can be purchased with Poké Gold (real money).

The second, and far more contentious, item is the Trade Token. Trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher demands a significant number of these tokens: 120 for a 3 Diamond card, 400 for a 1 Star card, and a whopping 500 for a 4 Diamond (ex Pokémon) card.

Trade Tokens are acquired solely by discarding cards from one's collection. The exchange rates are heavily weighted against the player: a 3 Diamond card yields 25 tokens, a 1 Star card 100, a 4 Diamond card 125, a 2 Star card 300, a 3 Star immersive card 300, and a Crown gold card 1500. Cards of lower rarity are worthless in this system.

This system necessitates the sacrifice of multiple valuable cards to trade a single high-value card. For example, five ex Pokémon must be discarded to trade one, and even selling a Crown rarity card—the rarest in the game—only provides enough tokens for three ex Pokémon trades. Selling a 3 Star immersive art card, a key selling point of the game, doesn't provide enough tokens to trade either a 1 Star or 4 Diamond card.

"A Monumental Failure"

The player response has been overwhelmingly negative. Reddit posts expressing outrage have garnered thousands of upvotes, with players like hurtbowler vowing to cease spending on the game, calling the trading update "an insult" and "insulting to look at." Many echo this sentiment, labeling the system "hilariously toxic," a "monumental failure," and lamenting the loss of a "safe way for the community to connect." The 15-second exchange time for Trade Tokens further exacerbates the tediousness of the process. Comments suggest the system actively discourages trading, with some players even proposing a name change to reflect the reality of the situation.

Pay Day

Many believe the trading system is designed primarily to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before the trading feature. The inability to easily trade high-rarity cards (2 Star and above) further supports this theory, as readily available trading would negate the need for players to spend heavily on packs for a chance at obtaining them. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.

Players like ACNL highlight the predatory nature of the token conversion rates, emphasizing the lack of alternative ways to acquire Trade Tokens. The requirement of three copies of a card before it can be sold further restricts trading options.

Creatures Inc. Stays Quiet

Creatures Inc. remains silent on the considerable backlash, a departure from their previous response to initial criticisms. Their prior statement, promising to consider feedback after launch, rings hollow in light of the current situation. IGN has reached out to Creatures Inc. for comment but has yet to receive a response.

Suggestions for improvement include adding Trade Tokens as rewards for missions, though the inclusion of Trade Stamina in rewards suggests this is unlikely. The negative reception casts a shadow over the upcoming Diamond and Pearl update, introducing Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia.