Pokémon TCG Pocket Devs Looking to Improve Trading Following Major Player Backlash

Pokémon TCG Pocket's trading feature, launched last week, has faced significant player backlash, prompting developer Creatures Inc. to address concerns. In a statement on X/Twitter, Creatures Inc. acknowledged the negative feedback, explaining that the restrictive trading mechanics, including Trade Tokens, were intended to prevent bot abuse and maintain a fair playing environment. However, they admitted that these restrictions unintentionally hinder casual enjoyment of the feature.

The company pledged to improve the trading system by offering Trade Tokens as rewards in future events. This promise, however, has already been broken, as the February 3rd Cresselia ex Drop Event failed to include any Trade Tokens.

The current system, criticized as "predatory and downright greedy," requires players to delete five cards to trade one of the same rarity. This, coupled with the inability to trade cards of 2-Star rarity or higher, forces players to spend significant sums of money on packs to obtain desired cards. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.

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Creatures Inc.'s statement, while acknowledging the issues, lacks specifics regarding the nature and timing of the planned improvements. The company hasn't clarified whether existing trades will be refunded or compensated for if changes to the Trade Token system are implemented. The limited availability of Trade Tokens (only 200 offered as premium Battle Pass rewards) further fuels player concerns about the feature's revenue-generating intent. The game, estimated to have generated $200 million in its first month, appears to be leveraging the trading system to increase revenue. The lack of Trade Tokens in the recent Cresselia ex event directly contradicts the company's stated intentions. Players have expressed strong dissatisfaction, describing the trading mechanic as a "monumental failure."