Destined Rivals Launch Faces Scalpers, Shortages, and Outages

The launch of the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals has been met with significant challenges, primarily due to overwhelming demand and the interference of scalpers. Set to release on May 30, 2025, this new expansion marks the much-anticipated return of Trainer's Pokémon cards, capturing the nostalgia of collectors. Within hours of opening pre-orders, the Pokémon Center site struggled to accommodate the influx of traffic, resulting in frustration and chaos for fans. Scalpers immediately flooded eBay with pre-orders, listing Elite Trainer Boxes at several hundred dollars, far above the retail price of $54.99. As the community expresses dissatisfaction with the current state of collecting, The Pokémon Company has acknowledged the high demand and promised additional inventory later this year, signaling potential hope for those eager to engage with this latest set.

The main issues include scalpers purchasing bulk inventories, causing significant price inflation on secondary markets, and website outages during pre-order launches, which left many legitimate collectors unable to secure their purchases.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has continually evolved since its debut in 1996, gaining massive popularity worldwide. The introduction of the Scarlet & Violet series has invigorated interest among both new and veteran players. With expansions like Destined Rivals focusing on beloved nostalgia elements from the franchise, the current challenges only highlight the community's passion for collecting and playing the game.