Since the Pokemon Trading Card Game first debuted way back in 1996, trading has been a big deal. I mean, it's in the name of the game itself, and it's crucial to being able to collect the cards you need.
So when Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket launched late last year, it was a bit of a head-scratcher that it didn't include a trade feature. Despite that missing key component, the game has been an incredible success and last year, The Pokemon Company promised that they will implement card trading in January 2025. Now we finally have a date!
The highly anticipated trade feature will launch on January 29, 2025. The feature will allow players to trade digital Pokemon cards with friends in a somewhat limited capacity. To start, you'll only be able to trade cards from the Genetic Apex and Mythical Island expansion, although there are plans in place to expand the lineup of tradeable cards in the future. We just don't have an exact timeline right now.
Just one day later on January 30th, Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket will receive a brand new expansion, Space-Time Smackdown.
"Featuring the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia, Space-Time Smackdown invites players to discover Pokémon from the Sinnoh region," the description reads. "In the expansion, players can expect unique card illustrations featuring fan-favorite Pokémon, including Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, and Lucario."
Are you ready to rumble? Discover a whole new expansion’s worth of cards in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket! Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia from the Sinnoh region have bent time and space to rule the battlefield as dimension-altering Pokémon ex. The Space-Time Smackdown expansion features new cards including exciting Pokémon ex cards, new Trainer cards, and gorgeous immersive cards ready to bring you into the wondrous world of Pokémon.
Released in October of last year, Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket is a mobile app adaptation of the traditional Pokemon Trading Card Game. The free-to-play app lets players experience the fun of opening booster packs, discovering cards, and even building decks to battle with. It's designed in a way that it's easily accessible from mobile devices and approachable for both newcomers and veterans who love the thrill of opening booster packs and collecting cards, even if they are just digital.
With your cards, you can build decks to take into battles with streamlined rules that have been optimized for mobile devices. And for those who are new to the game, you can still take part in the fun with features like automatic battles, rental decks, and auto-build.
Described as "free-to-start," players are allowed to open up to two booster packs per day at no cost. You can open additional booster packs by spending money on things like the Premium Pass, which grants an additional 30 packs per month, or Poke Gold.
Pokemon TCG Pocket was a smash hit upon release, surpassing 60 million downloads as of mid-December 2024. Its reported total revenues were $120.8 million less than a month after its launch. With more features and cards on the way, there should be even more for players and fans to do.