Trading digital Pokémon TCG Pocket cards can be a risky yet profitable venture.

      The Pokémon Company

      After the controversial trading feature launched in Pokémon TCG Pocket, an unusual “black market” has emerged for some of the rarer cards. A number of players have begun selling digital cards on eBay, pricing them between $5 and $10 each. Although this clearly violates the game's terms and conditions, proving these real-money transactions is challenging and poses minimal financial risk to the sellers — however, it’s not necessarily a straightforward way to earn money.

      The introduction of the trading mechanic sparked dissatisfaction among players. Creatures, Inc, the developer, promised to modify the system, yet provided limited information on how or when these modifications would occur — and while there are limitations on trading, these restrictions have not prevented players from discovering workarounds.

      A quick search on eBay for “Pokémon TCG Pocket” shows thousands of listings ranging from complete accounts to physical representations of the cards. Other sellers have posted rare cards like Gyarados ex for sale, only asking that buyers possess the required trade stamina and 500 trade tokens to finalize the deal.

      Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space-Time Smackdown | Coming Soon!

      “Once your payment is successfully processed, you will be contacted to exchange our Friend ID,” one listing states, guaranteeing delivery within 12 hours after purchase. Currently, alternate art and Pokémon ex cards are the most sought after, but these activities haven’t gone unnoticed.

      Creatures, Inc issued an in-game statement saying, “We are aware that some players have engaged in data tampering, real money trading, and other actions that violate the Terms of Use. If we confirm that a player has engaged in behavior that breaches the Terms of Use, we will warn them, suspend their account, or take other action.” The warning addresses a broad spectrum of violations, so the specific concerns of the company remain somewhat ambiguous — yet it is evident that engaging in this underground market carries risks.

      Trade-specific currencies such as Trade Tokens were intended to prevent the exploitation of in-game systems, but instead, they have left players dissatisfied. Some fans have proposed enhancing the trading system to allow players to search for specific cards they wish to trade for, eliminating the requirement for both players to be friends.

      Patrick Hearn covers smart home technology, including products like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.

      Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket recently received its first major update.

      You may have opened Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket this morning to discover a new option for booster packs. If you haven't, this news might prompt you to grab your phone. Indeed, the Mythical Island booster pack has finally arrived, and they are all themed around Mew.

      We were aware that the update was forthcoming, but players exhibit little patience. The new booster set features 86 cards — 68 new ones along with 18 rare versions — and you will also receive a set of 12 complimentary hourglasses as a gift from the development team.

      Read more

      Project K is an upcoming League of Legends TCG that looks promising.

      Last week, Riot Games unveiled Project K, its physical trading card game. The timing aligns perfectly with the momentum created by Arcane season 2, the ongoing popularity of League of Legends, and the general trend in trading card games. The developers have now explained how to actually play the game, which unsurprisingly incorporates elements from beloved TCGs. One key point to highlight early on: This is much more than just Legends of Runeterra.

      Dave Guskin from Riot Games shared a post on X outlining all the rules and regulations. The objective is to capture various battlefield cards, with each captured battlefield earning one point, and maintaining control of a battlefield during each turn earning another point. The first player to reach eight points wins, and up to four players can participate in a single game.

      Read more

      The Game Awards 2024: Here’s the complete list of winners.

      To conclude 2024, The Game Awards showcased some of the year's most significant games — including Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Black Myth: Wukong — competing for the Game of the Year and several other prestigious awards. Astro Bot was awarded the top honor. This was not the only accolade presented that evening, however. To help you track all the winners of The Game Awards 2024, we compiled this list. Check it out to see if your favorite game of 2024 received any awards!

      The Game Awards 2024: Official 4K Livestream -Thursday, December 12 (7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT/12:30 AM GMT)

      Game of the Year

      Read more.