The Pokémon Company is addressing a significant shortage of its latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Read on to discover the reasons behind the shortage and the company's plan to resolve the issue.
Pokémon's Latest Expansion: High Demand Leads to Shortage
Pokémon Company Increases Production to Meet Demand
As reported by IGN on January 16, 2025, The Pokémon Company is actively working to replenish stock of Prismatic Evolutions.
"We are aware that some fans are experiencing difficulty purchasing Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions products due to unexpectedly high demand," a Pokémon Company spokesperson stated. "We understand this is frustrating, and we are working at maximum capacity to increase production and get more cards to players as quickly as possible."
While fans may need to be patient, the Pokémon Company's commitment to resolving the shortage is reassuring.
High Demand Impacts US Retail Stores
The shortage was first highlighted on January 4, 2025, by the Pokémon TCG fan website, PokeBeach. The report detailed how the unexpectedly high demand significantly impacted smaller US retailers. Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, a major Pokémon store in Maryland, commented, "A large part of the problem is stores that don't usually order Pokémon products are now trying to get this set from distributors."
This surge in demand led distributors to limit supplies to local retailers by 10-15%, resulting in significantly reduced stock for smaller stores. Larger retailers like GameStop and Target received a disproportionately larger share of the initial allocation. This uneven distribution has exacerbated the shortage for many smaller, local game stores.
The shortage is also driving up prices on the secondary market. Reports indicate the upcoming Elite Trainer Box, with a retail price of $55, is already selling for $127. However, it's anticipated that increased supply will likely reduce these inflated prices.
Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions: 2024 Announcement and Subsequent Releases
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 more. On January 7, 2025, the Pokémon Company revealed the set also includes 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 Prismatic Evolutions products, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin (featuring Eevee and its evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex), launched on February 7, 2025. A Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection will follow on March 7 and April 25, 2025, respectively.
Players could experience the set early via Pokémon TCG Live on January 16, 2025, for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
