Pokémon TCG Pocket Dev Gifts Players Trade Tokens But Still Doesn't Have Answers to Fix Controversial Feature

Creatures Inc., the developer behind the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has recently distributed 1,000 Trade Tokens to players, sufficient for only two significant trades. This move comes as the company continues to explore solutions to address the contentious trading mechanic that has stirred significant controversy within the community.

Upon logging in today, players will discover these Trade Tokens in their Gift menu, albeit without an accompanying message. However, Creatures Inc. took to X/Twitter to express gratitude for the feedback and patience shown by fans. The trading feature, introduced last week, faced severe backlash, with the developer being labeled as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy" by the player base.

The trading system in Pokémon TCG Pocket not only restricts players from opening packs or using the Wonder Pick feature excessively without spending real money but also introduced Trade Tokens as an additional barrier. Players have been vocal about the steep cost of these tokens, which requires them to remove five cards from their collection to trade just one card of the same rarity.

Every Alternate Art 'Secret' Card in Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space Time Smackdown

52 Images

It has been eight days since the trading feature was rolled out, met with intense criticism. Creatures Inc. had previously hinted at the feature's introduction nearly three weeks ago, acknowledging fan concerns and inviting feedback upon its release. Despite assurances that the feature would be well-received, the reality fell short of expectations. In response, Creatures Inc. admitted that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" the trading aspect of the game.

The developer promised to address these complaints 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.

Many fans believe that the trading system is designed primarily to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before trading was even introduced. The inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher further supports this theory, as it prevents players from easily acquiring missing cards, pushing them to spend more money on random chances to obtain them. For instance, one player reportedly spent around $1,500 just to complete the first set, with the third set in three months arriving last week.