Creatures Inc., the developer behind Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has recently distributed 1,000 Trade Tokens to its players. These tokens, which are sufficient for only two significant trades, come as the company continues to explore solutions for the controversial trading mechanic introduced last week. Players can find these tokens in their Gift menu upon logging in, and while there was no accompanying message, Creatures Inc. took to X/Twitter to express gratitude for the community's feedback and patience.
The trading feature, introduced amidst a backdrop of existing mechanics that limit pack openings and Wonder Picking without real-world monetary investment, drew heavy criticism. Players labeled the developer as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy" due to the new system's high costs and additional restrictions. To trade a single card of the same rarity, players must sacrifice five cards from their collection, a move that has sparked significant backlash.
Every Alternate Art 'Secret' Card in Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space Time Smackdown
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It has been eight days since the launch of trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and the response has been overwhelmingly negative. Creatures Inc. had previously hinted at potential issues when it announced the feature nearly three weeks ago, stating, "Your concerns are seen," and encouraging players to try it out and provide feedback. However, the reality did not meet expectations, leading to widespread disappointment.
In response to the outcry, Creatures Inc. acknowledged that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" trading. The company promised to address these concerns by offering required items as rewards in future events. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event, launched on February 3, did not include any such rewards, further frustrating the community.
Players have voiced concerns that the trading system seems designed primarily to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before trading was even implemented. The restriction on trading cards of 2 Star rarity or higher is seen as a tactic to encourage spending on random card packs, with one player spending around $1,500 just to complete the first set. With the third set released last week, the financial burden on players continues to grow.
