A significant aspect that Pokemon TCG Pocket has yet to include is the option for players to trade cards among themselves. Given that “Trading Card Game” is part of the title, it’s quite surprising that this feature has been absent for such a long time since the game’s launch. Fortunately, the developers have announced that trading will be introduced sometime this month, although it might not align perfectly with what many players have been anticipating if recent rumors hold any weight.
A new rumor about the Pokemon TCG Pocket indicates that when the trading feature goes live, only diamond and one-star cards will be eligible for trade. This limitation means that some of the game’s rarest cards, such as the full-art Ex cards, won’t be available for trading, which might disappoint players looking to enhance their collections through trades. However, this trading strategy could ultimately be beneficial, as it may help deter players from taking advantage of the trading system.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Restricting Trades for Rare Cards May Be for the Best
Restricting Trade for Rare Cards Could Help Prevent Exploits
Although DeNA and The Pokemon Company have not officially confirmed this information, there are indications that it may be accurate. This is supported by the developer’s earlier comment that only a select number of cards will be tradeable when trading is introduced in January 2025. Given the unpredictable nature of the physical Pokemon TCG card market in recent years, it’s understandable that Pokemon TCG Pocket would want to implement measures to prevent players from exploiting the trading system for an unfair edge. For instance, players might create multiple accounts on different devices just to gather all their rare cards on one main account.
One clear concern that may come from allowing the rarest cards in the game to be traded is the emergence of third-party websites that sell these in-game cards to players. Titles with large in-game economies, like World of Warcraft and Path of Exile 2, already face challenges with third parties profiting from selling top items to players, leaving developers without a share of the earnings. Given the immense popularity of the Pokemon TCG, it’s understandable that The Pokemon Company would want to steer clear of this situation with the trading system in TCG Pocket.
Pokemon TCG Pocket May Want to Avoid Another Animal Crossing: New Horizons Situation
Nintendo has seen its fair share of third-party trading platforms emerging around its games, particularly with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This game gave rise to the well-known Nookazon website, where players could engage in buying and selling various items and even villagers using in-game currency. While this fan-created trading hub seems harmless, the excitement surrounding the villagers of Animal Crossing: New Horizons went well beyond just trading items. Some players were even ready to spend real money on sought-after villagers like Raymond through platforms like eBay, which is quite different from the in-game trading that Nookazon promotes.
It’s clear that a trading system in Pokemon TCG Pocket, which lets players exchange the rarest cards, could lead to situations where players end up buying them for real money from third-party sellers. While there’s a chance that Pokemon TCG Pocket might relax trading restrictions after thorough testing, it seems improbable that the rarest cards will ever be available for trade to prevent issues like this. Although this might make it tougher for some players to complete their collections, it could be essential for Pokemon TCG Pocket to manage any third-party trading platforms that might emerge.