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. The developer is actively investigating improvements to the system.
Players will find the Trade Tokens in their in-game Gift menu. Creatures Inc. acknowledged the negative feedback on X/Twitter, expressing gratitude for player patience. The initial introduction of trading was met with significant criticism, with many players labeling the system as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."
The trading system, like other in-game mechanics, includes restrictions designed to encourage in-app purchases. These restrictions, coupled with the limited Trade Tokens, require players to delete five cards from their collection to trade one of similar rarity. This high cost was a major point of contention among players.
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Over a week after the launch, the backlash continues. While Creatures Inc. previously solicited feedback, the current system falls short of player expectations. The developer admitted that existing restrictions hinder casual enjoyment of the trading feature and promised future event rewards to address these issues. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event (February 3rd) failed to deliver on this promise.
Many believe the trading system is designed to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly generated $200 million in its first month before the trading feature was even available. The inability to trade cards of 2-Star rarity or higher further fuels this suspicion, as readily available trading would negate the need for players to spend significant sums ($10, $100, or more) on packs for a chance to obtain rare cards. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set. The third set was released last week.
