The highly anticipated trading update for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has finally arrived - and fans couldn't be more disappointed. Despite widespread criticism when developer Creatures Inc. first explained the mechanics last week, the implemented system has somehow managed to exceed expectations in all the wrong ways.
A Flawed Trading System
Players are flooding social media with complaints about the new trading feature, which comes loaded with excessive requirements and restrictions. While some limitations were known from last week's announcement, the full scope only became clear with today's launch revelation that players must "consume items to trade."
Unlike the Wonder Pick feature or opening booster packs, each trade requires two distinct resources. First is Trade Stamina - a familiar mechanic that recovers over time or can be replenished using Poké Gold (meaning real money).
Found a picture of the devs after the trade update!
byu/marcola42 inPTCGP
The Trade Token Controversy
But it's the second requirement that's truly causing uproar. Trade Tokens are mandatory for exchanging any card rated 3 Diamonds or higher, with steep costs:
- 120 Tokens for a 3 Diamond card
- 400 Tokens for a 1 Star card
- 500 Tokens for a 4 Diamond (ex Pokémon) card
The only way to obtain these tokens? Destroying valuable cards from your collection, with shockingly poor exchange rates:
- 3 Diamond card: 25 Tokens
- 1 Star card: 100 Tokens
- 4 Diamond card: 125 Tokens
- 2 Star card: 300 Tokens
- 3 Star immersive card: 300 Tokens
- Crown gold card: 1500 Tokens
Community Backlash
"The trading update is an insult," wrote Reddit user hurtbowler in a viral post. "The greed is so excessive I can't justify spending another dollar. They should remove 'Trading Card Game' from the title - it's downright misleading now."
Other players called the system "predatory" and "unsustainable," noting how even destroying rare 3 Star immersive art cards (a major selling point of the app) doesn't provide enough Tokens to trade for a single 4 Diamond card.
what a joke of a trading system
byu/ZenGraphics_ inPTCGP
Monetization Concerns
Many suspect the intentionally frustrating system aims to drive players toward purchasing more card packs - especially since higher rarity cards (2 Star and above) can't be traded at all. This forces collectors to gamble rather than trade for missing cards.
"If these trade costs remain, the app should be renamed Pokémon Card Game Pocket," commented user Darkmalice. "This isn't a trading system - it's an anti-trading system."
Developer Silence
Despite promising to "listen to feedback" last week, Creatures Inc. has remained silent amid today's backlash. While some hope they'll add Token rewards to missions, current trends suggest Trade Stamina is more likely to appear as rewards instead.
The poor rollout comes at an especially awkward time, with Diamond and Pearl Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia set to debut soon. Whether Creatures Inc. will address these concerns before the next update remains to be seen.
Finally Trade is here.... wait What?
byu/Tidus1117 inPTCGP
