Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Revenue Has Surged Thanks to Shining Revelry

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s daily revenue has surged by 265%, which is attributed to the release of its latest expansion. On March 27, Pokemon TCG Pocket launched a surprise mini-set called Shining Revelry, which introduced 111 new cards, including two new rarities of shiny critters. Like fans of most other Pokemon games, Pocket players eagerly began hunting for these shiny cards, sparking a trend that is now believed to have contributed to a revenue spike.

Since its launch, the game has proven to be a financial success, with some reports indicating that TCG Pocket generated over $400 million within just two months. This isn’t surprising, as Pocket follows the gacha model, a genre known for its addictive, microtransaction-driven mechanics. Still, recurring revenue growth, like the recent jump after Shining Revelry, highlight DeNA and The Pokemon Company’s success with their digital trading card game.

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According to a report by PocketGamer.biz, an analysis by Sensor Tower confirms that TCG Pocket generated over $26 million from March 27 to March 30. To put this into perspective, the game’s revenue surged by 307% compared to the week before the set’s release. Most of this profit likely comes from Japan, as a previous report pointed out that Japanese players are the biggest spenders on TCG Pocket. However, the game has recently gained popularity in various regions, including France, Taiwan, Canada, and the United States, potentially driving even higher sales.

TCG Pocket’s Revenue Spike Could Be a Bad Sign

While increased sales authenticate the game’s popularity, the revenue spike after Shining Revelry has raised concerns about paywalls. TCG Pocket’s fifth expansion introduced a bundle-exclusive card, the shiny super rare Mewtwo ex, sparking backlash from free-to-play gamers. Some analysts speculate that this premium card, which is essential for completing the Pokedex, might be the real driver behind the leap in sales. Although free variants of this card exist, frustrated players argue that this trend could alienate F2P users, as missing even a few cards feels unacceptable in a game centered on collecting every card and variant.

A group of concerned players fears this is just the beginning of the end for F2P players, while others believe it’s not a big issue since premium cards usually have free counterparts, keeping PvP matches balanced. Some hopeful fans also speculate that these paid cards could become available to F2P players after a few months, similar to Marvel SNAP’s series drop system, which gradually makes premium and rare cards more accessible over time. For now, fans can only wait for TCG Pocket’s upcoming expansions to see if the developer continues locking cards behind paywalls.

Systems

Released

October 30, 2024

Developer(s)

DeNA, Creatures Inc.