The launch of Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket was met with excitement, but it quickly faced a significant challenge with its trading system. Initially, the trading feature was criticized for requiring hard-to-obtain currency and imposing numerous restrictions on what and with whom players could trade. However, a recent update promises to address these issues.
A major change is the complete removal of Trade Tokens. Players will no longer need to exchange cards to acquire the currency needed for trading. Instead, trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require Shinedust. You can earn Shinedust by opening booster packs and receiving cards that are already registered in your Card Dex.
If you currently own Trade Tokens, you can convert them into Shinedust. Since Shinedust is also used to obtain flair, further modifications to this system are in the works. Additionally, an upcoming update will allow you to share cards you're interested in trading through an in-game function.
As previously mentioned, the initial implementation of trading seemed half-hearted at best. The challenge with in-game trading, necessitated by the need to prevent abuse in a digital ecosystem, requires more restrictions than real-life trading. The solution lies in striking a balance that encourages fair play without stifling the trading experience.
While these changes are welcome, they won't be implemented until at least autumn, leaving us in spring with a wait that many feel is too long. Despite the Pokémon TCG Pocket team acknowledging these issues, the pace of addressing them has been slower than many would hope.
If you're hesitant to dive back into Pokémon TCG Pocket right now, consider exploring some of the new mobile games we've highlighted in our latest feature on the top five new mobile games to try this week.
