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

Creatures Inc., the developer of Pokémon TCG Pocket, has issued 1,000 Trade Tokens to players – enough for only two substantial trades – while continuing to address issues with the controversial trading mechanic.

Players logging in will find these tokens in their Gift menu without explanation. However, Creatures Inc. acknowledged player feedback and expressed gratitude for their patience via a post on X/Twitter. The developer faced significant criticism last week, with the trading feature described as "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."

The trading system, alongside existing restrictions on pack openings and Wonder Picking, was introduced with the Trade Token limitation. Players heavily criticized the high cost of acquiring these tokens, requiring the deletion of five cards of the same rarity to trade one.

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A week after the launch of the trading feature, which was met with significant negative feedback, Creatures Inc. acknowledged that "some restrictions...prevent players from casually enjoying" trading. The developer promised to address concerns by offering necessary items as rewards in future events, a promise seemingly broken by the February 3rd Cresselia ex Drop Event, which lacked such rewards.

Many believe the trading implementation prioritizes revenue generation for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before the trading feature. This is further supported by the inability to trade cards of 2-Star rarity or higher, a restriction preventing players from easily obtaining missing cards without spending significant sums ($10, $100, or more) on random card packs. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set, with the third set released just last week.