The long-awaited expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Scarlet & Violet: Prismatic Evolutions, is officially released on January 17, 2025. However, the excitement surrounding it has already led to a massive shortage and triggered a speculative boom. The Pokémon Company has acknowledged the issue and promised to increase production to meet demand.

In a statement released on social media and relayed to the media, the company warned fans about potential difficulties in acquiring products at launch. "We are actively working to print more Pokémon TCG products affected by high demand as quickly and at full capacity as possible," the statement reads, with a promise that reprints will soon appear in retail stores.

This special set, focused on Eevee and its evolutions, has sparked great interest among collectors and players. Elite Trainer Box (ETB) boxes, which retail for $60, are already selling for over $200 on resale platforms such as eBay. Booster packs, costing $27, are reselling for over $70.

The Pokémon Company has assured fans that additional Prismatic Evolutions products will be released in the coming months. These include Mini Tins in February, special collections in March and April, and premium products in May and September. Meanwhile, digital fans will be able to access the set through the Pokémon TCG Live mobile game starting January 16.

Speculators and resellers issue

Speculators and resellers have long been a major problem for Pokémon TCG fans, with each new set facing similar challenges. The shortage is further exacerbated by the fact that Prismatic Evolutions is a "special set," where booster packs are available only in ETB boxes and collection sets, making cards difficult for fans to access.

How retailers are fighting speculators

To counter speculation and limited availability, stores are implementing strict measures. Large chains like Target limit purchases to three items per customer per day, while independent sellers, such as MissingNo. Games in Wisconsin, have gone further by limiting sales to one item per customer and even opening product packages to make them impossible to resell.

Despite these measures, many fans fear that speculators will continue to dominate the market. And it's no surprise, as the internet is already flooded with videos from owners of massive amounts of Scarlet & Violet-Prismatic Evolutions sets, causing a wave of dissatisfaction among Pokémon fans online.

“Start taking action against stores and distributors selling items at inflated prices and withholding supplies. Also, take action against distributors and the like who allocate large quantities of products to individuals,” —  noted a comment under the official Pokémon TCG statement.

“You really need to start acting, as scalpers have long been a problem with Pokémon, and nothing has changed. You should start forcing stores to set limits on the number of items per person. This won't be solved just by printing more products”, wrote user @CosmicalBlurDX.

Some users caution others not to fall for speculative tactics and not to purchase from resellers to avoid supporting the current state of affairs. Instead, it's better to wait for the next official batch of cards.

Despite The Pokémon Company's commitment to reprints, many collectors and players anticipate disappointment on launch day. Experts advise fans to refrain from overpaying on the resale market, noting that patience will eventually allow purchasing products at the recommended retail price.