Trading is coming to Pokémon Pocket, but with significant restrictions

© The Pokémon Company

Card trading has always been the lifeblood of collectible card games. Pokémon Pocket is no exception. However, the announcement of the terms of exchange by The Pokémon Company risks disappointing some trainers. Between restrictions and a potential monetization system, the new system struggles for the moment to convince.

A trading system locked from the start

The first cold shower comes with the list of trading conditions. Players will only be able to trade their cards with their friends, a limitation that considerably reduces the possibilities for interaction within the community. Even more restrictive, only cards of the same rarity can be traded with each other.

The Pokémon Company drives the point home by limiting trades to cards from two expansions only: Genetic Power and Mythic Island. This decision effectively excludes all future collections, which should however arrive gradually. The rarity cap set between 1 and 4◆, as well as cards of a ★, also leaves the most valuable cards in the collection on the floor.

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A monetization that worries the community

It is planned to introduce consumable items needed to make trades. While their exact nature remains mysterious, speculation is rife. The community fears the appearance of a new premium currency, similar to the hourglasses already present in the game. This prospect reinforces fears of excessive monetization of the exchange system.

The developers' reaction on Twitter, promising to take into account player feedback, was not enough to ease tensions. Experience shows that adjustments made to this type of system often remain marginal, preserving the monetization mechanics initially planned.

A striking contrast to the game's success

These restrictions should not really tarnish the phenomenal success of Pokémon Pocket. With 60 million downloads in just two months of existence, the game is establishing itself as one of the major successes of 2024 on the mobile market. Its nomination for Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards is a testament to this enthusiasm.

Whether The Pokémon Company will relax these trading conditions in response to community feedback remains to be seen. For now, players will have to work with these limitations.

• Pokémon Pocket introduces trading system limited to friends and cards of the same rarity
• Only cards from the Genetic Power and Mythic Island expansions will be tradable, with a strict rarity cap
• The system will require consumable items to complete trades, raising concerns about monetization

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