GameStop’s New Limit on Pokemon TCG Sales Sparks Controversy Ahead of Launch!

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Due to the ongoing demand and scarcity of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, GameStop is adjusting its sales strategy. They have discontinued online pre-orders, instead urging fans to visit stores in person for a chance at restocks. Furthermore, GameStop has implemented a purchase limit of only two sets for popular Pokemon card collections per customer. As the release of Scarlet & Violet – Destined Rivals approaches, GameStop anticipates another surge of customers queuing outside stores. In preparation, they have announced even more stringent limits on the acquisition of the upcoming Destined Rivals set.

The much-anticipated “Destiny’s Rivals” collection for the Pokémon Trading Card Game is set to drop on May 30th. This latest release offers a variety of items such as the Booster Display Box, Elite Trainer Box, Build & Battle Box, and Booster Bundle. However, much like other recent Pokémon card launches, the Team Rocket-themed collection is experiencing stock scarcity due to its high demand and exceptional chase cards. Given the likelihood of “Destiny’s Rivals” selling out swiftly, GameStop is imposing a purchasing restriction on their new Pokémon TCG products. As announced via their official @gamestop account, customers will be limited to buying only one item per SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) in this newest wave of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

New Pokémon TCG products will now be limited to 1 per customer. Have fun!

— GameStop (@gamestop) May 20, 2025

Essentially, when buying from the new Pokemon card set, gamers can only get one unique item each, not more than that. The individual booster packs will still be restricted to a maximum of 5 per customer, which is an increase compared to the previous 2 per customer limit for other releases. This stricter limit for ‘Destined Rivals’ means fewer customers will be able to purchase it, but it should give more fans a chance to acquire the latest expansion. If history repeats itself, local stores may display their estimated stock a few days before ‘Destined Rivals’ arrives on May 30th.

New GameStop Pokemon Limit Could Set Precedent

In this post, it’s mentioned that the “Pokemon Scarlet & Violet – Destined Rivals” collection might set a precedent for future changes. The post clarifies that in contrast to previous Pokemon TCG products, there will not be a limit of one per customer for this specific collection. This could potentially mean that GameStop may adjust their policy so that each new product drop will only allow one purchase per SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) per customer, although this hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. Given the ongoing shortages, it seems plausible that this might be the direction they take in the future.

As a die-hard gamer, I’m pumped about the upcoming release of the “Black Bolt” and “White Flare” split expansion, following the success of “Destined Rivals.” This highly anticipated set is jam-packed with full illustration cards for every single Unova Pokemon. Rumor has it that there will be a massive stock shortage, with most stores receiving no stock on July 18th, the day these sets hit the shelves. Given the scarcity of supply, I wouldn’t be shocked if GameStop decides to limit sales to just one unit again for this set. It’s going to be tough competition out there!

I’m optimistic that by cutting back on purchases, more Pokemon enthusiasts will successfully secure a copy of Destined Rivals when it becomes available next week. Good luck to all the trainers out there!

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2025-05-21 15:41