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Man Arrested After Hiding Inside Closed Best Buy Ahead of Pokémon Card Restock

Cade Onder — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:48:41 +0000

Jail time, I choose you!

A man in Pasadena, California, has been arrested after he hid inside a closed Best Buy ahead of a Pokémon card drop.

As reported by NBC Los Angeles, 45-year-old Patrick Keys managed to hide inside a Pasedena Best Buy location after it had closed and was seen …

A Japanese Store Has Come Up With a Fun Way to Combat Pokémon Card Scalpers: Forcing Customers to Pass a Quiz Before They Buy

Verity Townsend — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:46:35 +0000

Special Conditions.

Japanese electronics giant Bic Camera is making life tricky for those seeking to cash in on Pokémon cards. To deter scalpers, a branch in Tokyo now has a written Pokémon quiz that customers have to pass in order to buy the Ninja Spinner expansion.

As spotted by Dexerto, …

The Dark Side of Pokémon: 30 Years of Controversies You Never Knew About

IGN Nordic — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Pokémon turns 30 in 2026, but not everything about the world's biggest media franchise is cute and cuddly. From mass seizures in Japan to Burger King’s toy recall after a child’s death, banned episodes, swastikas on trading cards, and Pokémon GO becoming such a sensation that it became a talking point during a US presidential election, the history of Pokémon overlaps with some very strange corners of real life. We're breaking down some of the most notable controversies, debacles, incidents, snafus and hubbubs from Pokémon's 30-year history (the ones Nintendo doesn't want you to remember.)

Pokémon Fan Funds Wedding With $44,000 Charizard Card Sale

Tom Phillips — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:50:26 +0000

Searching far and bride.

A Pokémon fan has been able to fund his own wedding, after rediscovering a trio of rare Charizard cards hidden away in his attic.

Speaking to BBC News, Andrew Braund said he'd sold the three Pokémon cards for a total of £32,800 ($44,000) last week at …

Pokémon Card Release Marred by Violence

Tom Phillips — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:31:18 +0000

Fighting type.

Costco shoppers have been caught up in violence after an early morning release of Pokémon cards resulted in police intervention.

Video footage posted on Instagram by PokéStreetz shows a messy scene at the Costco in Mississauga, Ontario with Pokémon cards spilled across the store's parking lot.

"A …

Killer of Pokémon Store Clerk Was Ex-Boyfriend Who Was Arrested for Stalking Her Earlier This Year, Japanese Media Report

Verity Townsend — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:12:28 +0000

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo remains closed.

On March 26, a female store clerk at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Japan was fatally stabbed by a man, who then turned the weapon on himself. Both died of their injuries in hospital later that evening. Today, Japanese news outlets have revealed that the perpetrator was the victim’s …

Pokémon Center Store Clerk in Tokyo Fatally Stabbed

Verity Townsend — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:48:18 +0000

Local police are currently investigating.

On March 26, a female store clerk working at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Japan was stabbed by a man, who then turned the knife on himself. Both died of their injuries, according to Japanese outlet Jiji News’ latest report.

Around 7:15pm on Thursday evening, Japanese police received …

Pokémon Card Owner in Japan Swindled Out of Over $300,000 After Falling for One of the Oldest Fake Money Tricks in the Book

Verity Townsend — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:05:14 +0000

"I thought that sort of thing only happened in anime."

Police in Japan have arrested three men in a Pokémon card-buying scam. The alleged criminals arranged to buy three rare Pokémon cards for 51 million yen (approx. $320,000) from an individual. However, the paper bag they handed over to the victim was just filled with bundles of paper designed to …

IGN Legacies - How A Failing Nintendo Accessory Spawned the $100 Billion Pokemon Empire

IGN Nordic — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Without Nintendo’s Game Boy Link Cable, Pokemon would have never sold hundreds of millions of video games, printed tens of billions of trading cards, and had hundreds of millions of people play Pokemon Go. Pikachu is a ubiquitous part of pop culture, conquering everything from anime to high art. But how exactly did Nintendo’s failing peripheral lead to the creation of one of gaming’s most iconic brands, helping it stand the test of time over 30 years later? This is the story of how A Failing Nintendo Accessory Spawned Pokemon’s $100 Billion Empire.

New Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Expansion Officially Announced After Leaks, Preorders Start Soon

Robert Anderson — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:59:13 +0000

Mega Greninja faces off with Mega Floette.

The Pokémon Company International has officially confirmed the next Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution expansion will be Chaos Rising. This comes after initial leaks in February had preemtively revealed the third set to release in 2026.

Chaos Rising is set to focus on …

Here's Mega Skarmory EX From the Upcoming New Mega Pokémon TCG Set

Tom Phillips — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:39:56 +0000

Steel yourself.

Today brings an ultra rare Pokémon card from the upcoming Mega Evolution — Perfect Order expansion, and it's the first time this Mega Evolved ex creature has appeared in the Pokémon trading card game.

Mega Skarmory ex sees the recently-revealed Mega Pokémon appear in powerful form, with 260 HP …

Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Collection Set Teased During Pokémon Presents, Releasing Later This Year

Robert Anderson — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:51:02 +0000

Could this be the "Celebration Collection"?

Early teasers for a 30th Anniversary Pokémon TCG set were shown during the recent Pokémon Presents livestream. It will feature "an exciting line of products" that will be released later this year, with minimal other details revealed so far.

This has the potential to be similar to the "Celebrations" set …

Pokémon Card Store That Made Headlines After Customers Held at Gunpoint Now Hit by Nintendo Request to Rebrand

Tom Phillips — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:09:17 +0000

Poké Court is now The Trainer Court instead.

Last month, New York Pokémon card store The Poké Court was the focus of media attention following a frightening armed burglary that involved its staff and customers being held at gunpoint.

The incident prompted widespread shock and sympathy for the fledgling outlet, which lost $100,000 worth of stock in …

Logan Paul's Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon Trading Card Sells for $16.4 Million, Setting New Record

Tom Phillips — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:01:28 +0000

Payday.

Logan Paul's bejeweled PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon trading card has been sold at auction for a staggering $16,492,000, setting a new record.

The amount makes it, by far, the most expensive trading card ever sold — a record the same card also held when Paul bought …

The Pokémon Company Officially Delays Ascended Heroes TCG Booster Set, With Release Week Now Featuring Just a Single Sealed Product

Robert Anderson — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:18:11 +0000

Erika and Larry blister packs have been pushed back to February 20 in the US and Canada.

The Pokémon Company has officially delayed the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution - Ascended Heroes Erika/Larry two-pack blisters from its original release date of January 30, 2026, to February 20 in the US and Canada.

Ascended Heroes is the latest Pokémon TCG set …

Armed Robbers Steal $100,000 of Pokémon Card Merchandise, Hold Customers at Gunpoint

Tom Phillips — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:29:11 +0000

"50 people had to basically get held up and held hostage."

A Pokémon card store in Manhatten has become the latest target for thieves looking to steal merchandise featuring the lucrative pocket monsters — and this time, customers were held at gunpoint.

Speaking to ABC News, staff at the Poké Court outlet in the Meatpacking District have said …

Logan Paul Says He'll Hand Deliver the Most Expensive Pokémon Card if You Buy It From Him at Auction — and the Price Is Already More Than $2 Million

Tom Phillips — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:16:01 +0000

Payday.

The most expensive Pokémon card in the world has been put up for sale by Logan Paul, the wrestler and influencer who previously paid $5.3 million for it.

Paul's mint condition, PSA 10-rated Pikachu Artist holds the Guinness World Record as the most expensive Pokémon trading card in existence — but …

Southern California Police Are Trying to Work Out if Multiple Burglaries Involving Trading Card Businesses Are Linked

Vikki Blake — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:25:48 +0000

Pokémon cards are the big draw.

Southern California police are investigating a wave of similar burglaries involving trading card businesses in a bid to establish whether they are linked.

Thieves made off with thousands of dollars' worth of trading cards over the weekend, targeting a trading card store in Simi Valley, California, in the early hours of …

Pokémon Thieves Steal Cards Worth $100,000 in Latest Californian Store Heist

Tom Phillips — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:21:40 +0000

Fury swipes.

Thieves keen to steal Pokémon cards have struck again in Southern California, turning over a Burbank store and taking more than $100,000 of stock.

The robbery is just the latest in a string of similar incidents across the region, KTLA5 reports, where three masked figures were seen raiding …

GameStop Blasts 'Trolls' Who Claim Its 'Trade-In Values Are Bad' While Celebrating Record $30,000 Payout For a Pokémon Card (That It Admits Was Worth $3,000 More)

Tom Phillips — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:36:37 +0000

"Any prior and ongoing objections to our trade values are now deemed without merit and factually invalid."

GameStop has highlighted its recent payout of more than $30,000 for a rare Pokémon card as evidence that the chain's trade-in program offers fair value — while simultaneously admitting the card had actually been worth at least $3,000 more.

In its latest publicity stunt aimed at getting gamers' attention, GameStop issued …

Everything Announced at the 2025 Pokémon World Championships

Casey Defreitas — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:13:07 +0000

A huge, multi-day Pokémon fan event was just announced.

The 2025 Pokémon World Championships just concluded, and as is tradition, the closing ceremonies featured new announcements fun for Pokémon fans of all kinds, presented by Tzunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company. Here’s a round-up of all the important Pokémon announcements revealed at the World Championships you …

McDonald's Announces Pokémon Crackdown After Scalpers Scoop Up Card Stock, Waste Food

Tom Phillips — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:02:43 +0000

Mac revive.

McDonald's has announced fresh restrictions aimed at combating scalpers, as it launches the next wave of its enormously popular Pokémon promotion in Japan.

Last weekend, the fast food chain was swamped by scalpers who bought up dozens of Happy Meals just for the exclusive Pokémon cards within them. Photos …

McDonald's Pokémon Card Giveaway Ends Early Amid Restaurant Chaos, Scalping and Widespread Food Waste, as Fans Buy Dozens of Happy Meals Only to Dump Uneaten Burgers

Tom Phillips — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:34:22 +0000

"We sincerely apologize for not being able to meet the expectations of our customers."

McDonald's has announced the early end of a Happy Meal Pokémon card promotion in Japan, after the chain was swamped by fans buying up dozens of burgers just to extract the packs found within them.

Photos and videos of the ensuing chaos posted to social media show arguments among customers …

Pokemon Trading Card Game - Official Mega Evolution Showcase Trailer | Pokemon Presents July 2025

IGN Nordic — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:16:06 +0000

Watch the Mega Evolution Showcase Trailer for Pokemon Trading Card Game, the classic tabletop Pokemon card game developed by The Pokemon Company. Players can soon access the return of Mega Evolutions with the upcoming Mega Evolution expansion. Get a sneak peek at what's in store for the Mega Evolution expansion for the Pokemon Trading Card Game, releasing on September 26.

Exclusive First Look at 2025 Pokémon World Championships Merch

Casey Defreitas — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:46 +0000

This year, there are three distinct Lines: Rockabilly, SoCal Beach Skater, and Varsity.

The Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, CA are just around the corner in August, and with it comes an exclusive line of cute Pokémon merch, which IGN has an exclusive first look at. Each year, the Pokémon World Championships hosts a special Pokémon Center pop-up shop, and we’re getting three …

Pokémon TCG: Black Bolt and White Flare Preview — Why This Dual Expansion Is Epic

Christian Wait — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

So many Illustration Rares, not enough sleeves

I’ve been opening packs from Black Bolt and White Flare for the past week, including a White Flare Elite Trainer Box, the Poster Collection, Black Bolt Binder Collection, the Victini Illustration Collection, and a White Flare Booster Bundle. Right away, these don’t feel like typical Scarlet and Violet products. …

2025 Pokémon World Championships Exclusive Merch Reveal

IGN Nordic — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:56:07 +0000

Pokémon Card Shop in Japan Allegedly Robbed by Rival TCG Shop Owner: 'There's no use thinking you won't get caught. We will definitely catch everyone'

Verity Townsend — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:11:58 +0000

"Gotta heist 'em all."

Small, portable and sometimes worth so much money that it would give even Pikachu a shock, rare Pokémon cards have increasingly become the target of theft and other crimes. Japanese news outlets Sanspo and Automaton recently reported that Pokémon cards and cash worth a …

After Years Searching for Popstars, The X Factor and American Idol's Simon Cowell Is Now Hunting for Pokémon Cards

Tom Phillips — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:41:17 +0000

151 Direction.

Music mogul Simon Cowell has been spotted spending some of his reported $600 million fortune on expensive Pokémon cards.

The X Factor and American Idol star was recently photographed while attending the London Trading Card show held in South London, at Croydon Boxpark.

It was there that Cowell, 65, purchased a …

Pokémon Fan Meets Pope Leo, Gets Him to Sign a Popplio Pokémon Trading Card — and It Looks Like the Pontiff Got the Joke

Tom Phillips — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:44:08 +0000

Mew testament.

Most of the time, when a young Pokémon fan steps out on their journey to see the world, they don't get to meet the pope, or introduce the head of the Catholic church to an imaginary creature that shares his name (sort of).

But reddit user ReptileCake, a Pokémon fan …

GameStop Doubles Down on Trading Cards and Other Collectibles - IGN Daily Fix

IGN Nordic — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 21:33:20 +0000

In today's Daily Fix:GameStop is pivoting to the collectible trading card market as the company looks to improve upon a succesful first financial quarter. Trading cards—Pokémon specifically—are a huge market for collectors, but scalpers often prevent most fans from purchasing cards at retail prices. Maybe GameStop can find a way to prevent scalpers from buying up huge stocks of inventory. In other news, Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World is outselling Switch 1 launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by about 4x over a similar 4-day period in Japan. Mario Kart World has so far sold nearly 800,000 units in four days in Japan's retailers, not accounting for online sales. And finally, exciting details on MindsEye’s unique game creation tools.Presented by MindsEye.

GameStop to Double-Down on 'High Margin Potential' Trading Cards, Pokémon TCG and the Like a 'Natural Extension of Our Existing Business'

Vikki Blake — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:57:19 +0000

I choose you.

GameStop is doubling-down on trading cards.

In its 2025 Annual Meeting, CEO Ryan Cohen told shareholders that the company had seen its first profitable opening quarter since 2019 due to "reducing costs, cutting excess inventory, streamlining headcount, closing unprofitable stores, exiting under-performing geographies, and focusing on the …

We Unboxed Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet's Latest Expansion - Destined Rivals

Christian Wait — Fri, 23 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

It's the most fun I’ve had with Pokémon cards in a long time.

There’s something magical about slicing open the seal on a fresh Pokémon TCG box. That quiet shfffft as the plastic slides away, the weight of a booster box in your hands, and the flicker of hope as each pack crinkles open. And after unboxing everything myself, Pokémon …

Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals Preview - Scarlet & Violet's Best Expansion

Christian Wait — Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

We've gone hands-on with the highly anticipated expansion.

Releasing on May 30, 2025, the latest Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet expansion, Destined Rivals, is already set to be one of the biggest card game releases ever. And it deserves it.

I've managed to get an early hands-on with the set, and let …

Man Arrested After $300,000+ Worth of Stolen Pokémon Cards Discovered During Raid — Police Joke: 'Gotta Catch 'Em All'

Vikki Blake — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:16:21 +0000

"Gotta catch 'em all," a police spokesperson joked.

A man in the UK has been arrested after police discovered he was harboring a cache of stolen Pokémon cards worth £250,000 (approx. $332,500).

The hoard was discovered after Greater Manchester Police raided a home in Hyde, Tameside, on the outskirts of Greater Manchester. It contained cards still in their …

Stolen Pokémon Cards Photos - Tameside Police, UK May 2025

IGN Nordic — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:14:07 +0000

Pokémon Company Reveals New Split TCG Expansions: Black Bolt and White Flare

Christian Wait — Tue, 06 May 2025 15:42:49 +0000

Featuring Legendary Pokémon: Zekrom and Reshiram.

The Pokémon Company has announced a new split expansion for the Pokémon TCG, continuing the Scarlet & Violet series. Titled Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare, both expansions will release on July 18, 2025, at participating retailers worldwide.

The Pokémon Company Addresses TCG Shortages and Scalpers Following Destined Rivals Launch in New Statement

Eric Van Allen — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:18:11 +0000

Company "actively working" to print more of the impacted sets.

The Pokémon Company has officially addressed issues fans have had with getting their hands on recent Pokémon Trading Card Game sets. In a new statement, the company affirmed there would be reprints on the way, and that it's working to get products to fans.

The release of the latest set for …

Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals Launch Ran Into the Same Old Issues, With Scalpers, Shortages, and Outages

Eric Van Allen — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:44:22 +0000

Ready to Rocket.

The latest Pokémon TCG set, Destined Rivals, has been fully unveiled and the first pre-orders are already underway. If you've been collecting for a while, it might not surprise you that it's been a fairly chaotic launch window though, with scalpers and store issues already reportedly …

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box Images

IGN Nordic — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:42:34 +0000