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

Creatures Inc., the developer behind Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has recently made a significant move by gifting players 1,000 Trade Tokens. This gesture, enough for just two major trades, comes as the company continues to explore solutions to address the contentious trading mechanic that has stirred a wave of criticism among the game's community.

Upon logging in today, players will discover these Trade Tokens waiting in their Gift menu, albeit without an accompanying message. Creatures Inc. took to X/Twitter to express gratitude for the feedback and patience shown by their fans. This move follows last week's introduction of the trading feature, which was met with a barrage of negative feedback, with the developer being labeled "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."

The trading system, layered on top of the existing Pokémon TCG Pocket mechanics that already restrict players from opening packs or using Wonder Picking excessively without spending real money, introduced yet another layer of restriction with these Trade Tokens. Players have been vocal about the steep cost of obtaining these tokens, which requires them to sacrifice five cards from their collection just to trade one card of the same rarity.

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It's been eight days since Creatures Inc. rolled out the trading feature amidst significant backlash. The company had a premonition of this reaction when it previewed the feature nearly three weeks prior, acknowledging fans' concerns and inviting them to try it out and provide feedback. Many players anticipated improvements based on this communication, but the reality fell short of those expectations.

In response to the outcry, Creatures Inc. admitted that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" the trading experience. They promised to address these concerns by introducing required items as rewards in upcoming events. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event, which began on February 3, did not include any such rewards, further frustrating the community.

Critics argue 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 reinforces this notion, as it prevents players from easily acquiring missing cards, thus pushing them to spend real money—sometimes exorbitant amounts like $1,500 just to complete a single set. The third set in three months was released last week, adding to the ongoing financial burden on players.