McDonald’s has apologized to Pokémon Trading Card Game fans after a card distribution event ended unexpectedly at several restaurants on the day it began. It remains unclear how many locations were impacted, but fans in Japan looking to participate might want to hurry to their nearest McDonald’s.

The Japan-exclusive promotion was announced in mid-July, featuring eight new Pokémon-themed Happy Meal toys, while the limited-time offer for Pokémon TCG cards was scheduled from August 9-11. However, the promo cards were snatched up quicker than anticipated.

In a statement on their Japanese website, McDonald’s acknowledged the issue and expressed regret to fans who showed up expecting to receive cards only to find them unavailable. They cited demand exceeding their expectations and requested customers refrain from contacting individual locations regarding card availability.

Despite the high demand, Pokémon fans had anticipated the card shortage, particularly given the soaring market for rare cards. For instance, a Pikachu Illustrator trainer card sold for over $5.2 million in 2022. Currently, sealed packs are being offered at nearly $1,000 on eBay, while individual cards are priced between $20 and $40.