The Pokemon Company addresses stock shortage of Pokemon TCG’s latest expansion, the Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Read on to learn more about what caused the shortage and how the TCG will address the issue.
Pokemon’s Latest Expansion Shortage Due to High Demand
Pokemon Company Reprinting More to Address the Issue
The Pokemon Company is addressing the shortage of the Pokemon Trading Card Game’s (TCG) latest set, Prismatic Evolutions, as reported by IGN on January 16, 2025.
"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," a spokesperson from the Pokemon Company said. "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."
Though fans might have to wait for more time to get their hands on this latest set, it is reassuring that The Pokemon Company is working on bringing up its stock to optimal levels.
Demand for Pokemon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Hurt Local US Stores
The Prismatic Evolutions expansion’s shortage was reported on a Pokemon TCG fan website, PokeBeach, on January 4, 2025.
According to the report, local Pokemon stores in the US are experiencing shortage because of the unforeseen demand for this product. "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," Deguire said, owner of Player 1 Services, one of the largest Pokemon stores in Maryland, USA.
With many stores ordering the set, distributors limited the supplies by "10% to 15%" for local retailers. Thus, local Pokemon stores bear the brunt of the shortage as retail allocations were spread thinly "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible," while major stores like GameStop and Target received their lion’s share.
The shortage might also cause price spikes on certain editions of the Prismatic Evolutions set. According to the report, the yet-to-be-released Elite Trainer Box is already being sold at secondary markets for $127 USD (the retail price is $55). However, scalpers might lower the price or even avoid hoarding Prismatic Evolutions and its various editions once Pokemon TCG pumped up the stocks for TCG’s newest expansion.
Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions’ 2024 Announcement
On November 1, 2024, the Pokemon Company announced the latest expansion of Pokemon TCG, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, which will launch on January 17, 2025. The set includes Tera Pokemon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and more.
On January 7, 2025, the company also 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." For instance, they are adding Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.
Pokemon TCG is also launching other editions for Prismatic Evolutions on February 7, 2025, such as the Surprise Box and Mini Tin. The lineup features Eevee and its eight evolutions, "all appearing as a Stellar Tera Pokemon ex." Meanwhile, two additional editions (Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection) are launching on March 7 and April 25, 2025, respectively.
One day before its release, fans can also try the set in Pokemon TCG Live for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices on January 16, 2025. If you want to get a feel for the latest set and update your decks, it would be good to play TCG Live first.
Sources:
Prismatic Evolutions 2024 Announcement
Prismatic Evolutions Complete Edition List
Pokemon Company Teases New Cards from the Expansion
PokeBeach Shortage Report
