Pokémon TCG Pocket's highly anticipated trading update has arrived, but instead of celebration, the reception has been overwhelmingly negative, surpassing even the initial concerns voiced last week. Players are flooding social media with complaints about the system's excessive requirements and restrictive nature. While the restrictions were previously announced, the sheer number of resources needed to trade came as a surprise.
Unlike the Wonder Pick or booster pack openings, trading necessitates two distinct consumable items: Trade Stamina and Trade Tokens. Trade Stamina, replenishing over time or purchasable with Poké Gold (real money), is one requirement. However, it's the Trade Tokens that are sparking outrage.
Trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher requires Trade Tokens. The cost is steep: 120 tokens for a 3 Diamond card, 400 for a 1 Star card, and a hefty 500 for a 4 Diamond (ex Pokémon) card. The only way to acquire Trade Tokens is by deleting cards from your collection, with the exchange rate heavily favoring the game's developers. For instance, selling five ex Pokémon only yields enough tokens to trade one. Selling a Crown rarity card, the rarest in the game, only allows for three ex Pokémon trades. Even selling a 3-Star immersive art card—a key selling point of the game—falls short of the token requirements for higher-rarity trades. Lower rarity cards are essentially worthless for trading.
The backlash has been swift and intense. Reddit posts expressing frustration have garnered thousands of upvotes, with players labeling the update an "insult," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure." Many players are vowing to stop spending money on the game, highlighting the perceived greed and the significant time investment required for even a single trade due to the 15-second exchange process. Some are even suggesting a name change to reflect the game's trading limitations.
The community's sentiment points to a system designed primarily to boost revenue. The inability to easily trade higher-rarity cards directly encourages players to spend more money on booster packs, especially considering the substantial cost to complete even a single set—one player reported spending approximately $1,500. This is further amplified by the upcoming release of the Diamond and Pearl set.
Players are calling the trading system "predatory" and "greedy," criticizing the lack of alternative methods to obtain Trade Tokens. The current system necessitates purchasing numerous packs and holding onto multiple copies of the same card before trading becomes even remotely feasible.
Creatures Inc. remains silent on the widespread criticism, despite previously acknowledging concerns. While their earlier statement suggested potential improvements, the final implementation has clearly fallen short of expectations. IGN has reached out for comment on the player feedback and the possibility of future changes.
The addition of Trade Tokens as rewards for in-game missions could potentially alleviate some of the issues. However, given the current reward system favoring Trade Stamina and similar resources, this seems unlikely. The launch of this poorly-received trading mechanic casts a shadow over the upcoming Diamond and Pearl update, introducing Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia, which was meant to be a major milestone for the game.
