Creatures Inc., the developer of Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has addressed player concerns regarding the recently implemented trading mechanic by gifting players 1,000 Trade Tokens. This is enough for only two substantial trades, a temporary measure while the developer continues to refine the system.
Players will find the Trade Tokens in their in-game Gift menu. A post on X/Twitter from Creatures Inc. acknowledges the negative feedback and thanks players for their patience. The initial introduction of trading was met with significant criticism, with many players describing the mechanics as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."
The trading system, like other aspects of Pokémon TCG Pocket, incorporates restrictions limiting pack openings, Wonder Picking, and now trading, unless real-world money is spent. The high cost of acquiring Trade Tokens – requiring the deletion of five cards to trade one of similar rarity – was a major point of contention.
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Over a week after the launch of the trading feature, Creatures Inc. acknowledged that the restrictions were hindering casual enjoyment. While the developer promised to address these issues by offering necessary items as event rewards, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event (February 3rd) failed to deliver on this promise.
Many players believe the trading system is designed to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, a game estimated to have generated $200 million in its first month before trading was even available. This suspicion is fueled by the inability to trade cards of 2-Star rarity or higher, a limitation that seemingly forces players to spend significant sums ($10, $100, or more) for a chance at obtaining rarer cards. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.
