Pokémon Trading Card Players Reject New In-Game Marketplace

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

The trading process demands two consumable items: Trade Stamina, replenishing over time or purchasable with Poké Gold (real money), and Trade Tokens. The latter are the primary source of contention. Trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher necessitates a significant number of Trade Tokens: 120 for a 3 Diamond card, 400 for a 1 Star card, and 500 for a 4 Diamond (ex Pokémon) card.

Trade Tokens are acquired solely by discarding cards from one's collection. The exchange rate is heavily unfavorable, requiring the sale of multiple high-rarity cards to obtain enough tokens for a single trade. For example, five ex Pokémon must be sold to trade one, and selling a Crown rarity card (the rarest in the game) only yields 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 even a single 1-Star or 4-Diamond card.

The community reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with players labeling the system "an insult," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure." Reddit threads are flooded with complaints about the excessive costs and laborious process, with many players vowing to stop spending money on the game. The 15-second exchange time for Trade Tokens further exacerbates the frustration. Many suspect the system's design is intentionally restrictive to maximize revenue.

The game, which reportedly generated $200 million in its first month, is now accused of employing predatory monetization tactics through this trading system. The inability to easily trade high-rarity cards forces players to spend considerable sums on booster packs for a chance at obtaining them. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.

Creatures Inc. remains silent on the backlash, despite previously acknowledging player concerns. IGN has reached out for comment, but no response has been given. While adding Trade Tokens as mission rewards could potentially alleviate the issue, it's more likely that Trade Stamina will be included as rewards instead. The launch of this poorly-received trading system casts a shadow over the upcoming Diamond and Pearl update, introducing Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia.