Scalping Has Gotten So Bad That The Pokemon Company Is Limiting Certain TCG Packs to Japanese Citizens Only

Bad news for Pokemon TCG players outside of Japan; you’ll need to be a Japanese citizen in order to buy certain decks and expansion packs from its official online store.

In an apparent effort to discourage scalpers, The Pokemon Company is implementing its first-ever ID-guarded protections for specific items on its online store. Those items are listed below:

• Pokémon Card Game Mega Expansion Pack 30th Celebration Box: 7,200 Yen (~$46 USD)
• Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Futuristic Box: 27,500 Yen (~$174 USD)
  • The most expensive of the lot, this includes two Pikachu EX promo cards, shields, a deck case, a display case, play mat, and other goodies.
• Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Espeon and Umbreon Premium Deck Set: 6,200 yen (~$39 USD)
• Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Card Set: 10,800 Yen (~$68 USD)

To snag these packs, you’ll have to be a Japanese citizen with an ID card issued by the Japanese government. If you don’t have one, you’re simply outta luck.

First announced in July, buyers will need to use the Digital Identification App to make these purchases, which is a free, secure online tool that allows citizens to sign documents and verify their identities online. It’s used alongside the My Number Card, a plastic IC-chip card for residents that acts both as an official photo ID and a digital tool to more easily access government services.

It’s a super secure, citizens-only process that severely limits who’s able to get these card packs, but given the sheer amount of scalping that’s taken place within the Pokemon space specifically, it makes sense that these protections are being implemented.

This is the latest measure the Pokemon Company has taken to discourage TCG scalpers after enacting facial recognition scans at select card stores within Japan, affecting adults and children above elementary school age to “provide a safe and secure shopping environment for all customers, to prevent crime, and to ensure compliance with appropriate entry and purchase rules.”

Details

These policies aren’t a total surprise; Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa announced that My Number IDs would be necessary for certain purchases in order to combat scalping in the Pokemon TCG space in early July.

“Nintendo also communicates with The Pokémon Company as needed to discuss appropriate ways to deliver products to consumers," Furukawa said. "We believe that The Pokémon Company will continue to take measures to respond to this issue."

It doesn’t seem like scalping as a practice within the trading card community has shown any signs of stopping, though. Recently, Disney theme parks and stores in both the United States and Europe were overwhelmed after customers lined up in droves to purchase new Princess-themed Lorcana packs, forcing one location to temporarily close its doors to prevent chaos that had started unfolding outside among overeager players and scalpers.

It’s not just cards that are suffering from this treatment; merchandise for high-profile IPs in general are suffering from the scalping epidemic, with the One Piece x Popeye’s exclusive bento boxes getting resold on eBay for hundreds, while limited-edition Pokemon Pop-Tarts were also listed online for as high as $50.

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.