Pokemon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions: High Demand Leads to Reprints
The Pokémon Company is addressing a significant shortage of its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. High demand, exceeding initial production, has resulted in limited availability at launch.
Addressing the Shortage:
The Pokémon Company acknowledges the inconvenience caused by the shortage and has confirmed it's working at maximum capacity to reprint the affected products. While fans may experience delays, the company assures increased stock is underway.
Impact on Retailers:
The unexpected surge in demand disproportionately affected smaller, local US stores. Distributors, facing overwhelming orders, limited supplies to 10-15% for smaller retailers, while larger chains like GameStop and Target received significantly larger allocations. This has led to concerns about price gouging on secondary markets, with some products already selling well above retail price. For example, the Elite Trainer Box is reportedly selling for $127 USD, compared to its $55 USD retail price.
Expansion Details and Release Schedule:
Announced on November 1, 2024, and launched January 17, 2025, Prismatic Evolutions features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, and ultra-rare Supporter cards. The set also includes reprints of popular cards with new artwork. Additional product releases are scheduled for:
- February 7, 2025: Surprise Box and Mini Tin (featuring Eevee and its evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex)
- March 7, 2025: Booster Bundle
- April 25, 2025: Pouch Special Collection
A digital version of the set was also released on January 16, 2025, on Pokémon TCG Live for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
