Pokémon Company Tackles TCG Shortages, Scalpers After Destined Rivals Release

The Pokémon Company has taken a significant step to address the frustrations fans have experienced with the availability of recent Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) sets. In a recent statement, the company confirmed plans for reprints and emphasized its commitment to improving product availability for fans.

The latest set, Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals, encountered numerous challenges including shortages, issues with pre-orders, and the impact of scalpers. Other sought-after sets like Prismatic Evolutions and the Blooming Waters box have also been notoriously hard to obtain due to high demand.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box Images

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In a statement published on the Pokémon website, The Pokémon Company acknowledged the difficulties fans face in purchasing certain Pokémon TCG products, attributing these issues to overwhelming demand. "We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokémon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity to address this," the statement detailed. "Reprinted products are expected to be available at participating retailers as soon as possible."

Looking ahead, TPC plans to maximize production for future TCG expansions to ensure better availability at launch. The company also committed to continuing reprints of affected products, including those available at the Pokémon Center.

The Pokémon Company indirectly addressed the issue of scalping, stating that for Pokémon Center releases, it is "committed to providing a smooth purchasing experience and employ technology that helps get products into the hands of fans first and foremost." This includes using a virtual queue system during times of high website traffic to manage product distribution effectively.

"We will continue to explore measures that help create the best possible experience for Pokémon Center customers," the company affirmed. "We’d like to thank the community for their continued support and patience as we work to deliver more Pokémon TCG products to fans."

With these assurances, fans of the Pokémon TCG can look forward to a more streamlined and less stressful experience when seeking to collect and enjoy new sets as they become available.