The Pokemon Company is tackling the stock shortage of the Pokemon Trading Card Game's (TCG) latest expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Here, we delve into the reasons behind the shortage and the measures being taken to resolve it.
High Demand Causes Pokemon's Latest Expansion Shortage
As reported by IGN on January 16, 2025, the Pokemon Company is actively addressing the shortage of the Pokemon TCG's newest set, Prismatic Evolutions. A spokesperson from the company stated, "We’re aware that some fans may experience difficulties purchasing certain Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions products at launch due to high demand impacting availability. We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokémon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity to acknowledge this."
While fans may need to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this highly sought-after set, it's comforting to know that The Pokemon Company is committed to ramping up production to meet demand.
Local US Stores Feel the Impact of Prismatic Evolutions Demand
The shortage of the Prismatic Evolutions expansion was first highlighted by the Pokemon TCG fan website, PokeBeach, on January 4, 2025. According to the report, local Pokemon stores across the US are struggling due to the unexpected demand for the product. Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, one of the largest Pokemon stores in Maryland, USA, noted, "I think a large part of the issue is that stores who do not normally order Pokemon are requesting to buy this set from distributors."
Distributors have had to limit supplies to local retailers by "10% to 15%," spreading the allocations thin "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible." Meanwhile, larger retail chains like GameStop and Target have received larger allocations, exacerbating the shortage for smaller local stores.
The scarcity has also led to price spikes in the secondary market, with the yet-to-be-released Elite Trainer Box already listed at $127 USD, well above its retail price of $55. However, once The Pokemon Company increases production, scalpers may find it less profitable to hoard the Prismatic Evolutions set and its various editions.
Announcing Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions in 2024
The Pokemon Company announced the Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion on November 1, 2024, set to launch on January 17, 2025. This set introduces exciting new elements such as Tera Pokemon ex, special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and more.
On January 7, 2025, further details were revealed, including new cards and reprints of popular cards from recent expansions with fresh artwork. Highlights include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.
Additional editions of Prismatic Evolutions will be released on February 7, 2025, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin, featuring Eevee and its eight evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokemon ex. Further releases include the Booster Bundle on March 7, 2025, and the Pouch Special Collection on April 25, 2025.
Fans eager to try out the new set can do so a day before its official release in Pokemon TCG Live on January 16, 2025, available on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices. This is a great opportunity to experience the latest cards and update your decks before the physical release.
