Pokémon TCG Pocket Dev Gifts Players Trade Tokens But Still Doesn't Have Answers to Fix Controversial Feature

Pokémon TCG Pocket developer, Creatures Inc., has addressed player concerns regarding the recently implemented trading mechanic by gifting all 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. Creatures Inc. issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) thanking players for their feedback and patience. The initial rollout of the trading feature last week was met with significant criticism, with many players describing the system as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."

The trading mechanic, like other aspects of Pokémon TCG Pocket, incorporates restrictions designed to encourage in-app purchases. Players are limited in how many packs they can open, how often they can use Wonder Picking, and now, how frequently they can trade without spending real money. The high cost of acquiring Trade Tokens – requiring the deletion of five cards to trade one of equivalent rarity – was a major point of contention.

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The backlash against the trading system has persisted for eight days since its release. While Creatures Inc. previously acknowledged player concerns and solicited feedback, the final implementation fell short of expectations. The developer later conceded that certain restrictions hindered casual enjoyment of the trading feature.

Creatures Inc. promised to address these issues by offering necessary items as rewards in future events. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event (released February 3rd) did not include any such rewards, further fueling player dissatisfaction.

Many players believe the trading system is designed to maximize revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly generated $200 million in its first month before trading was even available. This suspicion is reinforced by the inability to trade cards of 2-Star rarity or higher, a restriction that incentivizes players to spend money on packs for a chance to obtain rare cards. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set, highlighting the significant financial investment required. The third set was released last week.