Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is estimated to have generated more than $200 million in revenue in its first month, already overtaking Pokémon Sleep and Pokémon Unite.
PocketGamer.biz cited figures from AppMagic that estimated the digital card game hit $208 million November 29th, just a month after it launched on October 30. Pokémon TCG Pocket is free to play but allows players to buy extra booster packs, cosmetics, and a monthly pass that awards one extra pack a day.
The app launched to immediate success, with AppMagic estimating it was making $3 million a day after hitting $12 million after four. That number has only grown, however, as daily spend is now estimated to average $6.5 million.
Its best day so far coincided with the release of the Mass Outbreak event, when spending rose to $8.4 million. This comes despite, ironically, many players in the community finding this event to be underwhelming.
Pokémon TCG Pocket follows the standard mobile and free to play game model, flooding players with rewards in the opening few days before soon drying up, with spending real world money the only real way to re-experience that early thrill.
It tasks players with opening booster packs to complete a collection of cards and build decks to battle, though the latter of these is fairly barebones at the moment with only the collecting aspect fully realised. Pokémon TCG Pocket offers players just two packs a day without spending money, however.
Completing Genetic Apex, the first set of cards which totals 226 officially but also contains 60 rare alternate art, will take players not spending money around two years according to one estimate, while those looking to make it rain can wrap up the collection after dropping around $1,500.
Getting every card in the game is already impossible without spending money, however, as an additional set of promo cards is also available and so far includes two which can only be obtained through the $9.99 a month Premium Pass.
Developer Creatures Inc. is looking to release another smaller card set in December, while its next big drop of the official set two is expected in January.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
