Pokémon TCG Shortage Due to Prismatic Evolutions Forces Reprint

High Demand for Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Prompts Reprints

The Pokémon Company is responding to unexpectedly high demand for its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, by initiating a large-scale reprint. Initial reports of shortages emerged on January 4th, 2025, on the Pokémon TCG fan website PokeBeach, highlighting difficulties for smaller US retailers.

The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating that high demand impacted product availability at launch. A spokesperson confirmed that they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and address the shortages as quickly as possible.

The scarcity significantly impacted smaller US stores. According to Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services in Maryland, distributors limited supplies by 10-15% for local retailers, while larger chains like GameStop and Target received a larger share. This distribution strategy, intended to maintain a wide retail presence, inadvertently exacerbated the shortage for smaller businesses.

The limited supply has led to price inflation in the secondary market. The yet-to-be-released Elite Trainer Box, for example, is already selling for $127 USD, significantly above its $55 USD retail price. However, this situation is expected to improve once the reprints hit the market.

Initially announced on November 1st, 2024, Prismatic Evolutions launched on January 17th, 2025, featuring Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, and reprints of popular cards with updated artwork. Additional product releases, including the Surprise Box, Mini Tin, Booster Bundle, and Pouch Special Collection, are scheduled for February 7th, March 7th, and April 25th, 2025, respectively. A digital version of the set was also released on Pokémon TCG Live on January 16th, 2025.

The Pokémon Company's commitment to reprinting Prismatic Evolutions offers reassurance to fans, though some may need to wait longer to acquire the expansion.