Pokémon TCG Pocket Dev Offers Trade Tokens, Yet No Fix for Controversial Feature

In a move to address the ongoing controversy surrounding its trading system, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket developer Creatures Inc. has generously gifted players 1,000 Trade Tokens. These tokens, sufficient for only two significant trades, were quietly added to the Gift menu for players logging in today. Although no accompanying message was provided, Creatures Inc. took to X/Twitter to express gratitude for the community's feedback and patience. This gesture follows last week's introduction of the trading mechanic, which drew sharp criticism from the community, labeling the developer as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."

The trading system in Pokémon TCG Pocket comes with multiple restrictions that have sparked outrage among players. In addition to the existing mechanics that limit pack openings and Wonder Picking without real-world money expenditure, the new trading feature introduces Trade Tokens as yet another hurdle. Players have voiced frustration over the high cost of these tokens, which requires sacrificing five cards from their collection just to trade one of the same rarity.

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It has been eight days since the trading feature's release, which was met with significant backlash. Creatures Inc. had previously hinted at the community's dissatisfaction nearly three weeks ago when it first outlined the trading system, stating, "Your concerns are seen. Once this feature becomes available, I'd like to invite everyone to try it and provide feedback." This led many to hope for a more favorable implementation, but their expectations were not met. In response, Creatures Inc. acknowledged that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" the trading experience.

To address these complaints, the developer promised to introduce required items as rewards in future events. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event, launched on February 3, failed to include such rewards, further frustrating the player base. 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 view, as it prevents players from easily acquiring missing cards and encourages spending on random chance packs. One player, for example, spent approximately $1,500 just to complete the first set, with the third set in three months arriving last week. This highlights the significant financial investment required to fully engage with the game's offerings.