05 November 2024
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A wild Pokemon App appeared! The newest way to play Pokemon sees you collecting and battling in a brand new app.
Written by George Chrysostomou
The Pokémon Trading Card Game has consistently been one of the best-performing and most popular Trading Card Games in the industry. Inspired by the Nintendo video game series and anime, players have enjoyed collecting these rare pocket monsters, battling them against one another, and rising to glory under tournament conditions.
The hobby has grown exponentially over the years, with the competitive space constantly expanding on a global stage. However, as has often been the case in the tabletop world in recent years, technological advancements have led to a breakthrough for the title. Developers Creatures and DeNA were commissioned to produce The Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket, with the former already associated with The Pokémon Company, and the latter having developed a range of mobile titles alongside Nintendo, such as Mario Kart Tour and Pokémon Masters.
The Pokémon Company launched the app on the 30th of October, 2024 and it has already been a smash hit. The title, which is available on both Android and iOS, has received over 10 million downloads in the first three days, with the game estimated to have made a gross profit of $23.2 million in the time period. Fans might be flocking to this technological update, but what’s it all about?
Related article: Beginner's Guide to Pokemon TCG
What is Pokemon TCG Pocket?
The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket was designed as an imitation of the classic TCG. Players are able to collect digital cards in the game from over the years, some of which come with additional immersive animations. You can battle and compete just as you can with the real-world alternative, but with online play, location is no longer a limit.
Players will notice the similarities don’t stop there, with the ability to open both free and monetised booster packs, full of the exact same cards you may pull out of a deck in your local gaming store. The cards are set up the same too, with the rules standardised and cemented to play the same no matter where you are. The transition to the platform should therefore be a smooth one for TCG fans.
However, those who have never played The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket may also find that this is a natural point of introduction, that’s far more cost-effective. Newcomers can experience the TCG without ever buying a physical card in their life, making the title accessible for all.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Updates
Nintendo will be thrilled with the massive launch of The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, which will be working hand-in-hand with the real-world TCG. Fans should not fret about this app being a replacement, as Nintendo has committed to supporting the classic iteration of the game, for years to come.
Players will also notice that the app will be getting updates as new cards are released. Almost every card that’s added to the physical TCG, no matter how rare, will thus have the potential to show up in your collection on the digital interface. These real-time connections will continue for the foreseeable future.
The success of the game, which will continue to be altered based on monetisation opportunities, isn’t too dissimilar to the massive launch of Pokémon GO! The Nintendo franchise has a tight hold over the mobile gaming industry, but how this title impacts the wider Trading Card Game space remains to be seen. With games like Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World also heading to the app store, it may well be that The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has just previewed the future.
Players can download the app, for free, right now, and experience the modernised take on the 28-year-old TCG for themselves.
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