Pokemon TCG Sales Slow After Scarlet & Violet's Launch, Say Store Owners

thegamer.com:

Pokemon TCG sales have suffered since the release of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, according to store owners. This is blamed on multiple factors, including the economy and series popularity.

According to a report from DualShockers, Pokemon card sales are "tanking" all around the world. 27 of the 31 stores that participated in the report say that they're struggling to shift Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's TCG stock, with much of it having to be severely discounted.

As part of the report, DualShockers interviewed store owners from a range of countries: the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Australia. Regardless of the region, the vast majority report a severe drop in Pokemon TCG sales this generation, particularly when compared to the Sword & Shield era. In one instance, a store went from reporting sales of €770,000 in 2021, to €126,000 in 2023.

Theories as to why this is happening vary. Many stores blame the ongoing cost of living crisis, meaning many fans have less disposable income for the hobby. Another said that the problem is that The Pokemon Company is printing too many cards, reducing the value of packs in the eyes of collectors. Meanwhile, an Australian store blames "series popularity", or lack thereof, after Scarlet & Violet launched to backlash from fans and critics alike.

With that said, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's own sales certainly didn't suffer. Despite widespread complaints about performance issues and bugs, it sold more than ten million copies in just three days. The similarly controversial Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl also broke sales records before this. It remains to be seen if this is enough to dent the brand as a whole, or if the drop in sales is limited to Pokemon TCG.

This all comes despite private Pokemon TCG sales often making headlines, as scalpers sell older single cards for eye-watering amounts of money. The big story from last year was the Van Gogh Pikachu Card, which was initially only available to attendees of the