Summary

• GameStop discontinues Pokémon TCG pre-orders and imposes purchase limits to combat resellers.
• GameStop will also offer free card savers and sleeves for Pokémon TCG PSA grading submissions on launch weekends.
• Many Pokémon fans are upset with GameStop’s decision due to concerns about having access to new TCG products on launch day.

GameStop has discontinued pre-orders for Pokémon TCG products, and purchase limits will be set for select products going forward. Although this decision was intended to help more fans have access to new Pokémon TCG products at launch, many Pokémon fans are unhappy and voicing their concerns.

Fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) often form decks featuring their favorite Pokémon. Many enjoy playing the card game and battling their friends, while others collect the cards for potential resale. Rare Pokémon TCG cards can be sold for significant amounts, sometimes even millions of dollars. Pre-orders typically guarantee fans access to new cards on launch day, but they also allow resellers to acquire subsets in bulk. To address this ongoing issue, GameStop is adjusting the purchasing process for new Pokémon TCG packs and products.

The official Twitter account for GameStop announced the discontinuation of pre-orders for Pokémon TCG products. From now on, purchase limits will be enforced for select SKUs, and GameStop will provide free card savers and sleeves for PSA grading submissions during launch Weekend Rip and Submit events. This aims to ensure that more fans can experience exciting new Pokémon TCG releases in stores without giving undue advantage to early buyers and resellers through pre-orders.

However, many collectors and fans express dissatisfaction, worried about the longer wait times at GameStop during product launches. Others fear that this policy restricts access to cards, which could significantly dampen their collecting hobby in high-demand situations on launch day. The decision poses uncertainty within the community as fans navigate these new changes.

Furthermore, the next Pokémon TCG release, the Hot Wind Arena subset, is set for March 14 in Japan, featuring 30 booster packs per box and over 60 cards to collect. Sinnoh Champion Cynthia is highlighted in the set, alongside several other cards from Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The exact release date outside Japan remains unclear, but with GameStop halting pre-orders, the launch of the Pokémon TCG expansion could lead to tensions in the community when it becomes available in the US.