The Pokemon Company is ramping up efforts to produce more of their popular TCG sets and expansions, a decision driven by overwhelming demand. Fans have been scrambling to get their hands on new Pokemon TCG packs, struggling especially during launch days due to the surge in popularity.
Despite the soaring success of the Pokemon TCG Pocket mobile game, many enthusiasts prefer the physical experience of collecting cards, tweaking their decks, and engaging in face-to-face battles. However, the game’s soaring demand has made acquiring new cards increasingly challenging. Issues are compounded by scalpers looking to profit, prompting retailers like GameStop to halt pre-orders, and setting purchase limits to curb the reselling market. At the Pokemon Center, a queue system has been implemented to ensure that every fan has the opportunity to snag the latest TCG products. Concerns in the community were further heightened when the newly anticipated ‘Destined Rivals’ pre-orders began to be canceled without notice.
Recently, The Pokemon Company acknowledged the frustrations of fans struggling to buy TCG products amid skyrocketing demand. They’re addressing this by planning a production boost for upcoming TCG sets and expansions, aiming to increase availability right when these products hit the shelves. The company is also gearing up to reprint some of the popular yet scarce products and has vowed to restock them at select retailers and their own Pokemon Center online store as soon as possible.
They are also focused on enhancing the buying experience by leveraging technology to prioritize loyal fans and avoid issues like the ‘Destined Rivals’ pre-order cancellations. With the current online queue system, they aim to streamline access for eager buyers during peak times. Although no new strategies have been announced, they’re actively looking to optimize the Pokemon Center shopping platform.
Whether these efforts will successfully mitigate fans’ frustrations remains to be seen. Yet, product launches are still scheduled as planned. Fans can look forward to the release of the ‘The Glory of Team Rocket’ expansion in Japan this April, followed by the ‘Destined Rivals’ launch outside Japan in May, both promising new and exciting Team Rocket-themed cards.
Overall, The Pokemon Company is actively working to address the challenges fans face and seems committed to keeping up with the rising demand for their beloved TCG products.
