Creatures Inc., the developer behind Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, has recently distributed 1,000 Trade Tokens to players, sufficient for only two major trades. This move comes as the company continues to address the ongoing controversy surrounding the trading mechanics in the game. Players who logged in today found these tokens in their Gift menu, and although no accompanying message was provided, Creatures Inc. took to X/Twitter to express gratitude for the community's feedback and patience. The trading system, introduced last week, has been met with harsh criticism, with the developer being labeled "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy."

The standard mechanics of Pokémon TCG Pocket already limit players from opening packs, using Wonder Picking, or engaging in excessive trading without spending real money. The introduction of Trade Tokens as an additional barrier has exacerbated player frustration. These tokens come at a steep price, requiring players to delete five cards from their collection just to trade one card of the same rarity, further fueling discontent.

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It has been eight days since the trading feature was rolled out, following significant backlash. Creatures Inc. had previously hinted at the feature nearly three weeks ago, acknowledging fan concerns and inviting feedback upon its release. Despite assurances that the system would be better than anticipated, the reality fell short of expectations. In response, Creatures Inc. admitted that "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" the trading experience.

The developer promised to address these issues by introducing required items as rewards in future events. However, the recent Cresselia ex Drop Event, launched on February 3, did not include these promised rewards, further disappointing the community. Many fans believe that the trading system is designed primarily to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly earned $200 million in its first month before trading was even introduced.

This suspicion is reinforced by the restriction on trading cards of 2 Star rarity or higher. If players could freely trade for these cards, they would not need to spend significant amounts of money—$10, $100, or even more—on random chances to obtain them. One player reportedly spent around $1,500 just to complete the first set, with the third set in three months arriving last week.