The Pokemon Company is pulling out all the stops to ramp up production of their coveted Pokemon Trading Card Game sets. This comes after several pre-orders for the highly anticipated Destined Rivals set were unexpectedly canceled, leaving fans in a frenzy. Over recent months, the demand for Pokemon TCG products has skyrocketed, making it a real challenge for enthusiasts to get their hands on newly released packs and boxes.
Despite the popularity of the Pokemon TCG Pocket mobile game, many die-hard fans still prefer the tactile experience of collecting physical cards, building formidable decks, and challenging their friends in person. Unfortunately, the joy of this hobby has been dampened lately. Growing demand, exacerbated by profit-driven scalpers, has made acquiring new cards increasingly difficult. Retail giant GameStop took a stand by halting pre-orders for Pokemon TCG products, while other retailers implemented purchase limits. The Pokemon Center introduced a queue system aimed at giving fans a fair shot at buying new releases. The situation reached a tipping point when fans found their Destined Rivals pre-orders quietly axed.
To address these issues, The Pokemon Company acknowledged on its official website the struggles fans face with purchasing new TCG products. The company is committed to upping production on future card sets and expansions to ensure greater availability when they hit the shelves. Plans are also in place to reprint popular products, including those running low due to high demand. Enthusiasts can expect reissued packs and boxes to start appearing at participating retailers and the official Pokemon Center online.
The Pokemon Company isn’t just focusing on production; they’re also looking to elevate the shopping experience. The aim is to leverage technology so dedicated TCG fans can easily access products, thwarting scenarios like the canceled pre-orders of Destined Rivals. Although the current queue system does its job during busy periods, the company is actively exploring other options to streamline and enhance the Pokemon Center experience.
Whether this boost in production will soothe the frustrations of loyal fans remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the schedule is packed with upcoming releases, none of which are delayed. Among these is the Pokemon TCG The Glory of Team Rocket expansion, set to introduce new Team Rocket-themed cards to Japanese fans this April. In May, the Destined Rivals will finally bring those sought-after cards to fans outside Japan.
