Pokémon TCG Pocket Dev Introduces Trade Tokens, Yet Controversial Feature Remains Unaddressed

Creatures Inc., the developer behind Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has recently provided players with 1,000 Trade Tokens, sufficient for just two significant trades. This move comes as the company continues to explore solutions for the game's controversial trading mechanic. Upon logging in today, players will discover these tokens in their Gift menu, although there was no accompanying message. Creatures Inc. expressed gratitude for the community's feedback and patience via a post on X/Twitter.

Last week, the introduction of trading to the game sparked a wave of criticism, with the developer being labeled as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy." The trading feature, which is part of the standard Pokémon TCG Pocket mechanics, already restricts players from opening packs or using Wonder Picking excessively without real-world currency. The addition of Trade Tokens as another layer of restriction further fueled player discontent, especially since acquiring these tokens requires sacrificing five cards from one's collection to trade just one card of the same rarity.

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It has been eight days since Creatures Inc. rolled out trading amidst significant backlash. The company had a hint of the impending discontent when it previewed the feature nearly three weeks ago, stating, "Your concerns are seen. Once this feature becomes available, I'd like to invite everyone to try it and provide feedback." This led many players to hope for a better outcome, but their expectations were not met. Creatures Inc. later acknowledged that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" the trading experience.

The developer promised to address these complaints by introducing required items as rewards in future events. However, this promise has not yet been fulfilled, as evidenced by the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event on February 3, which did not include any such rewards.

Many fans believe that the trading system is designed primarily to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before trading was even introduced. The inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher further supports this theory, as it prevents players from easily acquiring missing cards, pushing them to spend real money for a chance at obtaining them. For instance, one player reportedly spent around $1,500 just to complete the first set, while the third set in three months was released last week.