Pokémon TCG Pocket's in-game trading system fuels a thriving, albeit controversial, black market for digital cards. Numerous eBay listings offer Pokémon TCG Pocket cards for $5-$10 each, exploiting the game's trading mechanics. Sellers exchange friend codes with buyers, then transfer cards, circumventing the game's rules against buying and selling virtual items.
A typical listing might offer a Starmie ex for $5.99, requiring the buyer to possess 500 Trade Tokens, one Trade Stamina, and an "unwanted Pokémon ex" for the exchange. The seller essentially profits without losing assets; trading restrictions limit exchanges to cards of the same rarity, allowing sellers to perpetually cycle their inventory.
AnswerSee ResultseBay also features listings for rare ex Pokémon and 1-Star alternate art cards, along with entire accounts containing valuable items like Pack Hourglasses and rare cards—a common practice in online games, regardless of terms of service violations.
The trading system's launch sparked controversy, though the online trading isn't the primary source of complaints. The system's restrictions, including Trade Tokens (requiring five card deletions to trade one of equal rarity), and the inability to trade freely without befriending players, have drawn criticism. Players desired a more integrated, in-app trading system, eliminating the need for external platforms.
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Developer Creatures Inc. has warned against real-money transactions and other exploitative behaviors, threatening account suspensions for violations. Ironically, the Trade Token system, intended to curb such practices, has backfired, alienating many players. While investigating improvements, Creatures Inc. hasn't detailed specific changes despite ongoing complaints.
Concerns exist that the trading system is designed to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly generated half a billion dollars in under three months before the trading feature. The inability to trade higher-rarity cards (2-Star and above) further fuels this suspicion, as readily available trading would reduce the need for costly pack purchases. One player reportedly spent $1,500 to complete the first set.
