Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has announced major changes to its trading system following substantial player feedback since the system was launched early this year. Launched on January 29, 2025, the trading mechanism was initially met with plenty of excitement, but players quickly became frustrated with its implementation.
The original trading feature utilized Trade Tokens, which players had to acquire by destroying duplicate cards. This created significant challenges, as trading became prohibitively expensive and inefficient, with many feeling discouraged due to the taxing nature of farming these tokens. Following widespread criticism, the developers have decided to overhaul this controversial aspect of the game.
Beginning at the end of autumn 2025, Pokémon TCG Pocket will scrap Trade Tokens entirely. According to developers Creatures Inc. and DeNA, trading will now rely on Shinedust, which players accumulate whenever they open booster packs containing duplicates of cards they already own. Shinedust has also been utilized previously for obtaining “flairs,” decorative features for cards. The move promises to simplify trades significantly.
“Thank you for sharing your feedback on the trading feature... We're continuing to read your comments and investigate ways to improve the feature,” the developers stated. They acknowledge the prior system's hassle and how it failed to facilitate enjoyable trading experiences. The conversion of trade tokens to Shinedust also means players who have hoarded tokens will not lose out entirely on their investments.
While many players have voiced their relief about these changes, some have reacted with disappointment over their prior attempts to accumulate Trade Tokens. An anonymous player noted, “Appreciate the Trade Tokens being converted to Shinedust, but I definitely feel like an idiot for stocking up on Tokens now.” Another player lamented about the fate of their one-star cards after trading them for tokens, remarking, “Oh people melting their 1* cards to get trade tokens... they lost nothing?”
Another significant enhancement to the trading system will be the introduction of features allowing players to share what cards they are interested to trade for. Currently, players must negotiate trades blindly, which can lead to confusion and dissatisfaction. The new interface aims to make it easier to communicate trade preferences and streamline negotiations.
Players will also appreciate the developers' commitment to exploring aspects of trading concerning rare cards. The planned changes intend not only to reshape how trading operates but also to make previously inaccessible cards, such as promo cards and two-star rarity cards eligible for trades.
Despite the optimism about the upcoming changes, the developer's announcement raises questions about the timeline for when trading will genuinely improve. With the features not set to launch until the end of 2025, many are left wondering if there are grounds for revitalizing the trading experience within Pokémon TCG Pocket before then.
Some fans believe trading will grind to a halt as players elect to wait for the upcoming system improvements instead of risking their rare cards under the current restrictive setup. It remains to be seen how the Pokémon community will adapt during this transition period as players navigate this lengthy wait.
Community forums have shown some early signs of positivity around the announcement of these major improvements, hoping the planned updates will address the frustrations faced earlier. “It’s great to see Pokémon TCG Pocket listen to players,” one post reflected, as many seem eager to see how the developments will move forward.
Realizing trading sentiments stretch across various player experiences, there remains much anticipation within the community. One player articulated the collective hope, stating, “We just want to be able to exchange cards easily without losing too much value.”
Though the upcoming changes seem at first promising, the true test will come once they are implemented; how effective the system is remains to be seen, as many players still hold concerns about lost opportunities and card values. For now, it's clear the pivotal nature of trading holds significance within the Pokémon community, making players hopeful for improvements to come.