The Pokemon Company is actively addressing the stock shortage of the Pokemon Trading Card Game’s latest expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Discover the reasons behind the shortage and how the TCG is working to resolve the issue.
Pokemon's Latest Expansion Shortage Due to High Demand
The Pokemon Company is responding to the shortage of the Pokemon Trading Card Game's (TCG) latest set, Prismatic Evolutions, as reported by IGN on January 16, 2025.
A spokesperson from the Pokemon 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."
While fans may need to wait longer to acquire this highly anticipated set, it's reassuring to know that The Pokemon Company is committed to replenishing stock to meet demand.
Demand for Pokemon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Affects Local US Stores
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 in the US are facing shortages due to the unexpected demand for this product. Deguire, the owner of Player 1 Services, one of Maryland's largest Pokemon stores, 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."
With many stores requesting the set, distributors have limited supplies by "10% to 15%" for local retailers. This has left local Pokemon stores struggling, as allocations were spread thinly "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible," while major retailers like GameStop and Target received larger allocations.
The shortage may lead to price spikes for certain editions of the Prismatic Evolutions set. For example, the Elite Trainer Box, which has a retail price of $55, is already being sold on secondary markets for $127 USD. However, once The Pokemon Company increases the stock of TCG’s newest expansion, scalpers might lower their prices or reduce hoarding.
Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions’ 2024 Announcement
On November 1, 2024, The Pokemon Company announced the latest expansion of Pokemon TCG, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, set to launch on January 17, 2025. The expansion features Tera Pokemon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and more.
On January 7, 2025, the company further revealed that the set includes "all sorts of exciting new cards along with reprints of popular cards from recent expansions that feature all-new artwork." Notable additions include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.
Pokemon TCG is also set to release other editions of Prismatic Evolutions on February 7, 2025, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin, featuring Eevee and its eight evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokemon ex. Additional editions, such as the Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection, are scheduled for release on March 7 and April 25, 2025, respectively.
Fans can also try the set in Pokemon TCG Live on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices starting January 16, 2025, one day before its official release. This provides an excellent opportunity for fans to experience the latest set and update their decks before the physical cards become widely available.
