Pokémon TCG Pocket Has A Major Limitation Which Is Raising Concerns about Potential Monetisation Issues Down The Line

Pokémon TCG Pocket is a trading card game based on the popular anime. The game’s format is relatively elementary and translates the anime’s trading card into a digital format. One collects various cards, builds their deck(s), and then goes against AI or real-world opponents.

Despite the initial positive reactions, fans who dislike one of the game’s core mechanics seem outraged. Some are even worried that it is a premonition for something worse.

As per Fans, Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Deck Limit Doesn’t Make Much Sense

Akin to the real world, one of the various avenues for bragging rights in a trading card game is how many cards one has. The mobile trading card game based on the game aims to replicate the real thing. However, that is not without a huge caveat.

While one can build virtually endless decks in the real world, the mobile trading card game puts a ceiling on that number. Fans do not seem thrilled about this at all and are expressing their concerns regarding this on various social media platforms like Reddit:

anyone else feel like this is pointless?
byu/Amylazee inPTCGP

There isn’t a way to breach the deck limit without deleting one of your old decks in the game. While the game’s team seems determined to retain the game’s player count by releasing more card packs, they seem moot given that there is a 20-card limit on the deck and a 15-deck limit.

Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Deck Limit: Storage Issue or Set up for Microtransactions?

Given the popularity of the Pokémon IP, it is no surprise that the mobile trading card game is immensely popular. The IP’s popularity has penetrated distant media products too. Less than a month ago the team published a post on Twitter celebrating thirty million downloads.

This is what the game’s official handle posted:

T-t-t-thirty million?! 🙌 How many packs have been opened, then?🤔

On behalf of everyone working on the game and me, thank you for all your support! Seriously.

If you haven’t downloaded it, try it and let us know what you think – pic.twitter.com/rIGuS0mOep

— Pokémon TCG Pocket (@PokemonTCGP) November 8, 2024

While it isn’t an indicator of the active players, it is important to consider that the deck limit might be due to a server storage limit. This is what a user on Reddit highlighted too:

Comment
byu/Amylazee from discussion
inPTCGP

Comment
byu/Amylazee from discussion
inPTCGP

Some users—including one claiming to work in the industry—didn’t seem to agree with this:

Comment
byu/Amylazee from discussion
inPTCGP

One of the users also thought that it might be a clever way to compel users to splurge money on additional deck slots:

Comment
byu/Amylazee from discussion
inPTCGP

Comment
byu/Amylazee from discussion
inPTCGP

It will be a problematic turn if a game based on digital trading cards decides to charge for more slots. Given that the game is published by The Pokémon Company, a lack of server storage doesn’t seem all that feasible.

A lot of good games in the past have been ruined due to excessive microtransactions and mobile games are no exceptions. What do you think of this situation with Pokémon TCG Pocket? Do you think it is indeed a setup or it is a genuine storage problem? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!