The Pokémon Company is addressing a significant stock shortage of its latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Read on to discover the reasons behind the shortage and the company's response.
Pokémon's Latest Expansion: High Demand Creates Shortage
The Pokémon Company Increases Production
As reported by IGN on January 16, 2025, The Pokémon Company acknowledges the difficulties some fans are experiencing in purchasing Prismatic Evolutions products. A spokesperson 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, the company assures increased production is underway.
High Demand Impacts US Retail Stores
PokeBeach, a Pokémon TCG fan website, reported on January 4, 2025, that the shortage significantly impacts smaller US retailers. Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, a large Maryland-based Pokémon store, noted, "I think a large part of the issue is that stores who do not normally order Pokémon are requesting to buy this set from distributors." Distributors responded by limiting supplies by 10-15% for local retailers, prioritizing larger chains like GameStop and Target. This resulted in limited availability for smaller, independent stores.
The scarcity has already driven up prices on the secondary market. The upcoming Elite Trainer Box, for example, is reportedly selling for $127 USD (retail price: $55). However, this price inflation is expected to subside once The Pokémon Company increases supply.
Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions: 2024 Announcement and Release
Announced on November 1, 2024, and released on January 17, 2025, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork. Examples include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex (illustrated by Yukihiro Tada) and Roaring Moon ex (by Shinji Kanda).
Additional product releases are planned: a Surprise Box and Mini Tin on February 7, 2025, featuring Eevee and its evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex; a Booster Bundle on March 7, 2025; and a Pouch Special Collection on April 25, 2025. Players could also experience the set early via Pokémon TCG Live on January 16, 2025, for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
