Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket developer Creatures Inc. is "actively investigating ways to improve" the trading feature which launched last week to major backlash from players.
Creatures Inc. released a statement on X/Twitter that thanked players for their feedback and said they planned the controversial trading feature with the intention of stopping players from abusing it, but "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" it.
It also promised to alleviate complaints by introducing required items as rewards in upcoming events, but has already failed to do so as the Cresselia ex Drop Event released today, February 3, includes none.
Alongside the standard Pokémon TCG Pocket mechanic that restricts players from opening packs or Wonder Picking or, now, trading too much without spending real world money, the feature was also introduced with an extra restriction called Trade Tokens. Players criticized the high cost of obtaining these, as they essentially had to delete from their collections five cards before trading one of the same rarity.
"The item requirements and restrictions implemented for the trading feature were designed to prevent abuse from bots and other prohibited actions using multiple accounts," Creatures Inc. said. "Our goal was to balance the game while maintaining a fair environment for all players and preserving the fun of collecting cards that is core to the Pokémon TCG Pocket experience.
"However, thanks to your feedback, we understand that some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy the feature as intended. We are actively investigating ways to improve the feature to address these concerns. Going forward, we also plan to offer multiple ways to obtain Trade Tokens including through event distributions."
The statement is essentially as vague as it gets, with Creatures Inc. offering neither specifics into what changes will be made or when they will arrive, but it at least confirms that community concerns are heard.
Players of Pokémon TCG Pocket are also left in the dark as to if their current trades will be refunded or compensated in any way, as if the Trade Token cost changes, those taking advantage of the feature in its opening days may lose much more than if they waited.
Creatures Inc. doesn't seem particularly determined to include Trade Tokens in events either, as it only made a total of 200 available as premium rewards to those who pay $9.99 a month for the Battle Pass when the refresh arrived on February 1. This is enough to trade a single 3 Diamond card, the lowest rarity that requires Trade Tokens to trade.
It also failed to include any as rewards in the aforementioned Cresselia ex Drop Event which arrived today. Players can pick up new promo cards, Pack Hourglasses, Shinedust, shop tickets, and experience from completing the events, but Creatures Inc. doesn't offer a single Trade Token despite its vow to do so just yesterday.
Fans complained trading is fairly clearly being implemented as a means of increasing revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which is estimated to have made $200 million in its first month, before trading was possible.
This is also evidenced by the inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher, as if players could immediately trade for their missing cards, they wouldn't need to spend $10 or $100 or more for a random chance of getting them. It cost one player around $1,500 just to complete the first set, for example, and the third in three months arrived just a few days ago.
Players called the mechanic "predatory and downright greedy," "hilariously toxic," and a "monumental failure."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
