Pokemon TCG Pocket: Trading Feature Upgrades Amid Backlash

Pokemon TCG Pocket Developers Promise Changes After Player Backlash

Discover why players expressed dissatisfaction with the new trading system in Pokemon TCG Pocket and what DeNA plans to do about it.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Players’ Complaints About the Game’s Latest Update

TCG Pocket’s Trade Tokens are Quite Expensive to Obtain

The recent launch of the trading feature in Pokemon TCG Pocket on January 29, 2025, stirred significant unrest among players, leading to a swift response from developer DeNA. In a Twitter (X) post dated February 1, 2025, DeNA committed to future improvements.

The trading system, which enables exchanges of 1-4 Diamonds and 1-Star rarity cards from Genetic Apex and Mythical Island booster packs, was meant to assist players in completing their Poke Dex. However, the constraints such as limited card options, a new in-game currency, and high trading costs have sparked widespread discontent.

DeNA acknowledged the feedback and is "actively investigating ways to improve the feature to address these concerns." They aim to introduce "multiple ways to obtain trade tokens, including through event distributions." Currently, the trading is limited to 1-Star cards.

Trade tokens serve as the currency for trading and can only be acquired by sacrificing higher rarity cards. For example, trading a 4-Diamond card (an ex Pokemon) requires 500 tokens, which players can only earn by sacrificing cards of higher rarity—100 tokens for a 1-Star card and 300 for 2-Star and 3-Star cards. This system forces players to use up valuable or multiple cards just to trade.

DeNA clarified that the strict rules and restrictions were put in place "to prevent abuse from bots and other prohibited actions using multiple accounts." They emphasized that their goal is "to balance the game while maintaining a fair environment for all players and preserving the fun of collecting cards that is core to the Pokemon TCG Pocket experience."

While further details on changes to the trading system are pending, it seems the developers are considering potential exploits before rolling out an update.

Genetic Apex Seemingly Disappears After Space-Time Smackdown’s Release

Another issue surfaced with the release of the Space-Time Smackdown booster packs on January 29, 2025. Players expressed concerns on Reddit that the Genetic Apex booster packs had disappeared from the home screen, which now only displayed the Mythical Island and Space-Time Smackdown packs.

However, this is a misunderstanding. Players can access the Genetic Apex packs by selecting "Select other booster packs" at the bottom right corner of the pack selection screen. The small text size may have contributed to the confusion, leading some to believe that the first booster pack was no longer available.

While some attribute this to poor design, others speculate it might be a marketing strategy to promote the new packs. Yet, many players are still working on completing their collections from the initial booster pack. Suggestions have been made for DeNA to update the home screen to display all three sets, reducing confusion.

DeNA has not yet addressed this issue directly, but understanding how to access the Genetic Apex packs should reassure players that they can continue working towards completing their collections.