After massive fan backlash, Pokemon TCG Pocket is changing how trading works

After months of anticipation, Pokémon TCG Pocket has finally added a trading feature. However, the initial launch has faced criticism from fans due to its restrictive policies and introduction of new currencies. In response, the game’s developer, Creatures, Inc., has announced that changes and improvements are on the way, though no specific timeline has been provided.

In a press release, Creatures, Inc. explained the reasoning behind the current trading restrictions:

“Since releasing the first iteration of the trading feature a few days ago, we have received a large number of comments. Thank you all for sharing your feedback. The item requirements and restrictions implemented for the trading feature were designed to prevent abuse from bots and other prohibited actions using multiple accounts. Our goal was to balance the game while preserving the fun of collecting cards that are core to the Pokémon TCG Pocket experience.”

Despite their intentions, the developers acknowledged that some restrictions are preventing players from fully enjoying the feature:

“However, thanks to your feedback, we understand some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy the feature as intended. We are actively investigating ways to improve the feature to address these concerns. Going forward, we also plan to offer multiple ways to obtain trade tokens, including through event distributions.”

Currently, the system limits trades to cards of the same rarity level, specifically those with a rarity between 1 and 4 diamonds or 1 star. Players also need two types of currency—trade tokens and trade hourglasses—to initiate trades. To ease the transition, Creatures, Inc. is offering players enough trade tokens for one free trade if they log in now.

While it’s clear that the trading system won’t come without some restrictions—likely to prevent players from completing card collections too easily—fans can expect adjustments to make the feature more player-friendly in future updates. For now, players will need to navigate the existing system while waiting for improvements.