Prismatic Evolutions Shortage Prompts Pokemon TCG to Rush to Print More

High Demand for Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Prompts Reprints

The Pokémon Company is responding to unexpectedly high demand for its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, by initiating an immediate reprint. This follows reports of significant stock shortages impacting retailers, particularly smaller, independent stores in the US.

The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating that they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and address the widespread availability problems. While fans may experience delays in obtaining the set, the company assures them that more cards are on their way.

Impact on Retailers:

Reports surfaced earlier, on January 4th, 2025, on the Pokémon TCG fan website PokeBeach, highlighting the strain on smaller US retailers. The unforeseen demand led distributors to significantly reduce allocations to local stores (by 10-15%), favoring larger chains like GameStop and Target. This has resulted in limited stock for many independent game stores.

This scarcity has also driven up prices on the secondary market. The Elite Trainer Box, for example, is already commanding prices significantly above its $55 retail value. However, this inflated pricing is expected to normalize once the reprints reach the market.

The Prismatic Evolutions Expansion:

Initially announced on November 1st, 2024, with a release date of January 17th, 2025, Prismatic Evolutions features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork. Notable reprints include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Roaring Moon ex, featuring artwork by Yukihiro Tada and Shinji Kanda respectively.

Additional product releases are planned for February 7th (Surprise Box and Mini Tin), March 7th (Booster Bundle), and April 25th (Pouch Special Collection) 2025, all featuring Eevee and its evolutions. A digital version of the set launched on Pokémon TCG Live on January 16th, 2025, for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.