Pokemon Has “No Plans” To Add TCG Pocket To Its Competitive Circuit

Pokemon TCG Pocket has quickly become such a phenomenon, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the game is added to The Pokemon Company’s competitive circuit. It’s probably going to be a while before that happens, if ever, though with a Pokemon director confirming there are currently no plans to add Pocket to the short list of games that currently have official competitive play.

The Pokemon Company’s director of esports Chris Brown revealed the plans, or lack of them, to add Pokemon TCG Pocket to its competitive circuit during an interview with VGC. Brown noted that even though they’re “always looking at different titles”, there are currently no plans for competitive Pocket, at least not in an official capacity.

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Brown noted for a second time that they’re always looking at things after making that comment, so clearly the door isn’t closed on competitive Pocket for good. That would be a somewhat foolish thing to do less than four months after the app’s launch, especially when you consider just how long Pocket will remain popular. Considering its subject matter, similar to Pokemon Go, it could be a game that never goes away.

Pokemon Doesn’t Currently Have Competitive Plans For TCG Pocket

Probably Best To Steer Clear Of That Until It’s More Balanced

As for not adding Pocket to its competitive roster at this early stage, that’s probably for the best, and something most Pokemon fans likely expected. You can already play Pocket competitively with the battle feature available since launch. However, the metas being spun from it, the issues players have with the advantages and disadvantages of going first or second, and so many other things make competitive play on a larger, more official scale a proverbial minefield.

There’s not a lot of balance in Pokemon TCG Pocket yet which, two sets and four months in, is to be expected. To add it to the competitive circuit at this early stage would cause more problems than it’s worth. Brown also joked about keeping an eye on the potential of competitive Pokemon Sleep, although much like last year’s Pokemon Sleep Champion Tournament April Fools announcement, he appeared to be saying it in jest.

Pokemon’s current competitive line-up is made up of Pokemon Go, Scarlet & Violet, Pokemon Unite, and the regular trading card game. There likely won’t be a change to that line-up until whatever comes next after Scarlet & Violet has been revealed, released, and players have had the chance to get to grips with it. In the meantime, I’ll keep logging more hours than I need to in Sleep, just in case.

Systems

Released

October 30, 2024

Publisher(s)

The Pokemon Company