Pokémon TCG Pocket Gets Trading Today and Players Absolutely Hate It

Pokémon TCG Pocket's highly anticipated trading update has arrived, but instead of celebration, it's met with widespread player outrage. The trading system, criticized last week for its restrictions, has launched to an even more negative reception due to unexpectedly high requirements.

Social media is flooded with complaints about the excessive demands and limitations. While the restrictions were previously disclosed, the sheer number of items needed for each trade was downplayed. Trading necessitates two distinct consumable items: Trade Stamina and Trade Tokens.

Trade Stamina, similar to other in-game mechanics, replenishes over time or can be purchased with Poké Gold (real money).

The Trade Token Controversy

The real source of contention is Trade Tokens, mandatory for trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher. The costs are steep: 120 Tokens for a 3-Diamond card, 400 for a 1-Star card, and 500 for a 4-Diamond (ex Pokémon) card.

Trade Tokens are earned 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. Lower rarity cards are worthless for token acquisition.

This system forces players into an unfavorable loop. For instance, trading a single ex Pokémon requires selling five, and selling a Crown card (the rarest) only provides enough Tokens for three ex Pokémon trades. Even selling a 3-Star immersive card (a key selling point of the game) doesn't yield enough Tokens to trade a 1-Star or 4-Diamond card.

A Critical Backlash

The response from players has been overwhelmingly negative. Reddit posts describe the update as "an insult," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure." Many players, citing excessive greed, have vowed to stop spending money on the game. The lengthy process of selling cards for Tokens (approximately 15 seconds per transaction) further exacerbates the frustration. Some players suggest the game's title should be changed to reflect the trading system's limitations.

Revenue Generation Concerns

Many believe the trading system is designed primarily to boost revenue. Pokémon TCG Pocket reportedly generated $200 million in its first month, before the trading feature. The inability to trade higher-rarity cards directly supports this theory; if players could easily trade for missing cards, the need to spend money on packs would diminish significantly. One player reported spending $1,500 to complete the first set.

Creatures Inc.'s Silence

Creatures Inc. remains silent on the player backlash, despite previously acknowledging concerns. Their previous statement suggested improvements, but the current system has fallen far short of expectations. IGN has reached out for comment and to inquire about potential changes.

Potential improvements could include awarding Trade Tokens as mission rewards, although Trade Stamina is a more likely candidate for such rewards given the existing reward structure. The negative reception of the trading update casts a shadow over the upcoming Diamond and Pearl update, introducing Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia.