Pokémon TCG Pocket's New Trading Feature Sparks Outrage Among Players

The long-awaited trading update for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCGP) was released today, but it has met with an even worse reception than anticipated. Despite the initial backlash when the mechanics were revealed last week, players are now voicing their frustrations across social media, highlighting the excessive requirements and restrictions imposed by the new system.

The trading feature requires the consumption of specific items for each trade, a detail that was initially obscured by the developers. Players need to use Trade Stamina, which regenerates over time or can be purchased with Poké Gold, implying real-world money. Additionally, the introduction of Trade Tokens has sparked significant controversy within the PTCGP community.

Trade Tokens

Trade Tokens are mandatory for trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher rarity. The costs are steep: 120 tokens for a 3 Diamond card, 400 for a 1 Star card, and 500 for a 4 Diamond card (an ex Pokémon). These tokens can only be acquired by selling cards from a player's collection. For instance, selling a 3 Diamond card yields 25 tokens, a 1 Star card gives 100, and a 4 Diamond card provides 125. Higher rarities like a 2 Star card, a 3 Star immersive card, and a Crown gold card yield 300, 300, and 1500 tokens respectively. However, cards of lower rarities are essentially worthless and do not require tokens to trade.

This system necessitates that players sell multiple high-value cards to trade just one. For example, selling five ex Pokémon cards only grants enough tokens to trade one ex Pokémon. Similarly, selling a Crown rarity card, one of the rarest in the game, only provides enough tokens to trade three ex Pokémon. This has led to widespread criticism, with players pointing out that even selling highly sought-after 3 Star immersive art cards does not provide enough tokens to trade a 1 Star or 4 Diamond card.

'A Monumental Failure'

The community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with players calling the trading update "an insult" and "a monumental failure." On Reddit, user hurtbowler, who vowed not to spend another penny on the game, garnered over 1,000 upvotes with a post criticizing the system's greed. "It's just frustrating. The greed is so excessive I can't be inclined to spend another dollar. They should probably remove 'Trading Card Game' from the title screen. It's just insulting to look at," they wrote.

Others echoed these sentiments, with one user stating, "It's silly to have to burn two immersive cards to be able to trade just one 4 Diamond ex." Another comment highlighted the laborious nature of the system, noting that the process of exchanging cards for tokens can take around 15 seconds per transaction, leading to significant time spent in menus before a single trade can be completed.

The high costs and restrictive nature of the system led some to suggest renaming the app to "Pokémon Card Game Pocket," with one user remarking, "I don't think they want people trading at all. That's why they made it so bad."

Pay Day

Many fans believe the trading system is designed to boost revenue for PTCGP, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month without trading. The inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher is seen as a deliberate move to encourage spending on packs for a chance at rare cards. One player reportedly spent $1,500 to complete the first set, and the third set is set to launch tomorrow.

User ACNL on Reddit labeled the system as "predatory and downright greedy," pointing out the lack of alternative ways to acquire Trade Tokens. They noted, "This isn't sustainable at all. On top of that, you can't even burn a card unless you have three copies of it. If you want to trade in this game, you better buy a ton of packs and keep buying them."

Creatures Inc. Stays Quiet

Creatures Inc., the developer behind PTCGP, has not yet responded to the backlash following the trading update's release. Previously, the company acknowledged initial concerns about trading, stating, "Your concerns are seen. Once this feature becomes available, I'd like to invite everyone to try it and provide feedback. This way, the game can continue to evolve in an enjoyable way for everyone." However, the current implementation has fallen short of these expectations.

IGN has reached out to Creatures Inc. for comment on the reaction and potential plans for changes. Some players have suggested that incorporating Trade Tokens as rewards for in-game missions could mitigate the system's issues. However, it's more likely that Trade Stamina will be featured in these rewards, as similar items like Wonder Stamina and Pack Hourglasses have been used in the past.

The poor reception of the trading mechanic is particularly concerning as PTCGP prepares to launch its next major update, introducing Diamond and Pearl Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia to the digital card game.