The Pokemon Company is taking swift action to address the stock shortage of the highly anticipated Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. This article delves into the reasons behind the shortage and outlines the measures being taken to resolve it.
Pokemon Company Reprinting More to Address the Issue
On January 16, 2025, IGN reported that The Pokemon Company is actively tackling the shortage of the latest Pokemon TCG set, Prismatic Evolutions. A spokesperson from the company stated, "We’re aware that some fans may experience difficulties purchasing certain Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions products at launch due to high demand impacting availability. We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokémon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity to address this."
While fans may need to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this latest set, it's comforting to know that The Pokemon Company is committed to restocking to meet the demand.
Demand for Pokemon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Hurts Local US Stores
The shortage of the Prismatic Evolutions expansion was first highlighted by the Pokemon TCG fan website, PokeBeach, on January 4, 2025. According to the report, local Pokemon stores across the US are facing shortages due to the unexpected high demand for this product. Deguire, the owner of Player 1 Services, one of the largest Pokemon stores in Maryland, USA, noted, "I think a large part of the issue is that stores who do not normally order Pokemon are requesting to buy this set from distributors."
With an increased number of stores ordering the set, distributors have had to limit supplies by "10% to 15%" for local retailers. As a result, local Pokemon stores are feeling the impact as retail allocations are spread thinly "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible," while larger stores like GameStop and Target receive the bulk of the supply.
This shortage has also led to price spikes on certain editions of the Prismatic Evolutions set. For instance, the yet-to-be-released Elite Trainer Box, which has a retail price of $55, is already being sold on secondary markets for $127 USD. However, once The Pokemon Company increases production, scalpers may reduce prices or refrain from hoarding the product.
Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions’ 2024 Announcement
The Pokemon Company announced the Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion on November 1, 2024, with a scheduled launch date of January 17, 2025. This set introduces Tera Pokemon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and more.
On January 7, 2025, the company further detailed that the set would feature "all sorts of exciting new cards along with reprints of popular cards from recent expansions that feature all-new artwork." Highlights include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.
Additional editions for Prismatic Evolutions, such as the Surprise Box and Mini Tin, are set to launch on February 7, 2025, featuring Eevee and its eight evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokemon ex. Further releases include the Booster Bundle on March 7, 2025, and the Pouch Special Collection on April 25, 2025.
Fans eager to experience the new set before its official release can try it out in Pokemon TCG Live on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices starting January 16, 2025. This provides an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the new cards and update your decks ahead of time.
