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

Creatures Inc., the developer behind the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has taken a step to address the ongoing controversy surrounding its trading mechanics by gifting players 1,000 Trade Tokens. This gesture, enough for just two significant trades, comes as the company continues to explore solutions to the contentious feature. Players who logged in today discovered these tokens in their Gift menu, accompanied by a thank-you message from Creatures Inc. on X/Twitter, acknowledging the community's feedback and patience.

The trading feature, introduced last week, sparked a firestorm of criticism, with players labeling Creatures Inc. as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy." The system not only restricts players from freely opening packs or engaging in Wonder Picking but also adds the Trade Tokens as an additional barrier to trading. Players have expressed frustration over the high cost of these tokens, which requires them to sacrifice five cards from their collection just to trade one of the same rarity.

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It has been eight days since the trading feature was rolled out amidst significant backlash. Creatures Inc. had previously hinted at the community's discontent nearly three weeks ago, stating, "Your concerns are seen," and inviting players to test the feature and provide feedback. Despite these assurances, the actual implementation fell short of expectations, leading to widespread disappointment.

In response, Creatures Inc. admitted that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" trading. The company promised to address these complaints by introducing required items as rewards in upcoming events. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event, which started on February 3, did not include these promised rewards, further fueling player frustration.

Many fans believe that the trading system is primarily designed to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly generated $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 forces players to spend real money—sometimes up to $10 or $100 or more—for a chance to obtain these cards. For instance, one player reportedly spent around $1,500 just to complete the first set, with the third set in three months being released last week.