Pokémon TCG Expedites Printing Amidst Prismatic Surge

High Demand for Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Prompts Reprints

The Pokémon Company is responding to unexpectedly high demand for its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, by initiating immediate reprints. Initial reports of shortages emerged on January 4th, 2025, on PokeBeach, a dedicated Pokémon TCG fan website. The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, via IGN, stating they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and address the widespread stock shortages.

The scarcity particularly impacted smaller, local US retailers. According to Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services in Maryland, distributors limited supplies by 10-15% for smaller stores, prioritizing larger chains like GameStop and Target. This limited distribution led to significant stock issues for many independent stores. The situation also resulted in price gouging on secondary markets, with the Elite Trainer Box already selling for significantly above its retail price.

The Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion, announced November 1st, 2024, and launched January 17th, 2025, features highly sought-after cards including Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rares, and ultra-rare Supporter cards. The set also includes reprints of popular cards with new artwork, such as Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Roaring Moon ex.

Additional Prismatic Evolutions products, including a Surprise Box and Mini Tin featuring Eevee and its evolutions, launched February 7th, 2025. A Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection are slated for March 7th and April 25th, 2025, respectively. A digital version of the set was made available on Pokémon TCG Live on January 16th, 2025, for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.

While the current shortage is undeniably frustrating for fans, the Pokémon Company's commitment to increasing production offers some reassurance. Once supply catches up with demand, it's likely the inflated prices on the secondary market will stabilize.