Pokémon Trading Card Update Ruins Online Hub

Pokémon TCG Pocket's highly anticipated trading update has arrived, but instead of celebration, it's met with widespread player outrage. The trading system, criticized last week for its restrictions, has launched to an even worse reception due to unexpectedly stringent requirements.

Social media is ablaze with complaints about excessive limitations and resource demands. While the restrictions were previously announced, the sheer number of items needed for each trade was obscured behind the vague statement, "items must be consumed in order to trade."

Unlike Wonder Pick or booster pack openings, trading necessitates two distinct consumable items: Trade Stamina and Trade Tokens. Trade Stamina, replenishing over time or purchasable with Poké Gold (real money), is a familiar mechanic.

However, it's the Trade Tokens that are igniting the controversy. Trading cards of 3 Diamonds or higher requires a significant number of these tokens: 120 for a 3 Diamond card, 400 for a 1 Star card, and 500 for a 4 Diamond (ex Pokémon) card.

Trade Tokens are acquired solely by discarding cards from a player's collection. The exchange rates are heavily skewed against the player: a 3 Diamond card yields 25 tokens, a 1 Star card 100, a 4 Diamond card 125, a 2 Star card 300, a 3 Star immersive card 300, and a Crown gold card 1500. Lower rarity cards are worthless for token acquisition.

This system forces players into an unfavorable exchange; for instance, five ex Pokémon must be sacrificed to trade a single ex Pokémon. Even selling a Crown rarity card, the game's rarest and often difficult-to-obtain item, only provides enough tokens to trade three ex Pokémon. Selling a 3 Star immersive art card, a key selling point of the game, doesn't yield enough tokens to trade a 1 Star or 4 Diamond card.

The backlash has been intense, with players labeling the update a "monumental failure," "hilariously toxic," and an "insult." Many have vowed to cease spending on the game, highlighting the perceived greed driving the system's design. The 15-second exchange time for tokens further exacerbates the tedious nature of trading.

Reddit threads are filled with comments echoing the sentiment that the trading system actively discourages trading, suggesting it's primarily designed to boost revenue. This is further supported by the inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher, preventing players from easily acquiring missing cards without significant in-app purchases. One player reported spending approximately $1,500 to complete the first set.

The developer, Creatures Inc., remains silent on the overwhelmingly negative response, despite previously acknowledging player concerns. IGN has reached out for comment regarding potential changes.

While adding Trade Tokens as mission rewards could alleviate some criticism, it's more likely that Trade Stamina will be included in future rewards, given the precedent set by similar items. The launch of this poorly-received mechanic casts a shadow on the upcoming update introducing Diamond and Pearl Pokémon.