Pokémon TCG Pocket Gets Trading Today and Players Absolutely Hate It

Pokémon TCG Pocket's highly anticipated trading update has launched to overwhelmingly negative reviews, despite developer Creatures Inc.'s prior assurances. The trading system, criticized last week for its restrictions, has proven even more unpopular due to unexpectedly high resource requirements.

The trading process demands two consumable items: Trade Stamina, replenishing over time or purchasable with Poké Gold (real money), and Trade Tokens. Trade Tokens are necessary for trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher rarity. The token cost escalates dramatically with rarity: 120 for a 3-Diamond card, 400 for a 1-Star card, and 500 for a 4-Diamond (ex Pokémon) card.

Acquiring Trade Tokens involves discarding cards from one's collection, with significantly higher rarity cards yielding more tokens. However, the conversion rates are heavily unfavorable. For example, selling five ex Pokémon only provides enough tokens to trade one, and selling a Crown rarity card (the rarest) only yields enough 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 a 1-Star or 4-Diamond card.

This system has sparked widespread outrage on social media. Players describe the trading update as "an insult," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure," criticizing the excessive costs and time investment required for even a single trade. The 15-second delay for each token exchange further exacerbates the problem. Many players believe the system actively discourages trading, suggesting the primary goal is revenue generation.

The game, estimated to have generated $200 million in its first month, is accused of employing a "predatory and downright greedy" trading system. The inability to trade 2-Star or higher rarity cards directly reinforces the perception that players are forced to spend heavily on booster packs to obtain desired cards. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.

Creatures Inc. has remained silent on the backlash, despite previously acknowledging player concerns. IGN's request for comment regarding potential changes has yet to be answered. While adding Trade Tokens as mission rewards could mitigate the issue, the current implementation is widely viewed as a significant setback for a game on the verge of releasing a major update introducing Diamond and Pearl Pokémon.