Grass is green, and water is wet: Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket releases its latest Drop Event

It must be a day that ends in Y, because Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has kicked off its Zoroark Drop Event.

Here you can get a promo version of another card, and look forward to the next Wonder Pick Event and the next Mass Outbreak that will be along like clockwork. It is getting a little stale.

Back when Pocket launched, it was so exciting. Every phone in the world immediately downloaded it and started a virtual collection. That was nearly a year ago, and the bubble might have burst, according to the published Q1 FY2025 report. Whilst new users are still joining, retention is declining, and I don’t think this rigid event schedule is helping.

Let’s not forget that the Pokémon Company has definitely improved things as it has gone. After releasing that god awful trading system, they did an overhaul - although later than they should have - which drastically improved it. And I am sure we are all excited for Mega Lucario and other less important Megas' showing up this year.

Unfortunately, not even Mega Lucario can carry a game. Sure, there will be an upswing, but then we will settle back into this boring routine. It just can’t stay, and I believe the developers know this. According to the financial report, they are bracing for a decrease in revenue, but they still keep up this cycle as normal. 

How much longer can this still be interesting to people? Hell, the Wonder Pick stuff is barely an event as it is. Who green lit that instead of something that has actual gameplay value? This is a game that is equal parts collection and battling, but they seem to value the former because that is where the money is.

Yes, Pokémon Company, make that money. But let’s mix things up a little, too. Release different events, maybe more that involve playing the actual game. There aren’t that many battling events, and that's where the actual fun is. I have a multi-energy Eevee deck that’s just waiting to be owned by everyone.

If things remain the same, that retention rate will keep dropping, and will drag profits down with it.