Pokémon TCG Pocket Walks Back Trading Restrictions After Fans Kick Off

Last week, Pokémon TCG Pocket introduced a much-anticipated trading feature. In theory, it should have been a celebration of swapping rare cards like kids in a schoolyard. Instead, it came with more restrictions than a VIP section at a concert, and fans were not impressed.

To trade cards, players needed not one, but two special items—trade tokens and trade hourglasses. And even if they managed to get their hands on these, they could only swap cards of identical rarity, ranging from 1-4 diamonds or 1-star cards. Because, of course, a simple “you give me this, I’ll give you that” was far too straightforward.

Unsurprisingly, fans didn’t take kindly to the system. Complaints rolled in faster than a Snorlax down a hill, slamming the restrictions as overly complicated and needlessly frustrating.

Sensing the brewing storm, publisher Creatures Inc swiftly responded with a statement. They explained that these limitations were put in place to stop bots and multi-account trickery, ensuring a “balanced” trading experience. However, they admitted that the system might have, well, sucked a little too much fun out of the process.

“Thanks to your feedback,” the statement read, “we understand some of these restrictions are stopping players from actually enjoying trading, which is rather the whole point.” As a result, changes are on the way, including more accessible ways to earn trade tokens through events. For now, all players logging in will receive enough tokens for a free high-tier trade—a small olive branch to the disgruntled masses.

How exactly the system will change remains a mystery, but one thing’s certain: Pokémon TCG Pocket, which raked in over $120 million within two weeks of launch, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Developed by The Pokémon Company and DeNA, the mobile game lets players collect and battle Pokémon cards in digital form—though, as this debacle proves, “trading” them is still a work in progress.