Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has acknowledged the ongoing issues surrounding the widespread scalping and shortages of Pokémon trading cards, stating that The Pokémon Company is actively working to address the problem.
Fans have expressed significant frustration with the current state of card availability, which has seen new releases quickly sell out and become subject to inflated prices on resale markets. The issue has escalated to a point where numerous trading card stores have experienced overnight break-ins, and instances of theft, sometimes involving aggressive tactics, have been reported. One notable incident involved an arrest in Florida for allegedly stealing $12,000 worth of Pokémon cards while armed with a battery-powered chainsaw.
In response to these concerns, Furukawa confirmed during a recent shareholder meeting that Nintendo is aware of the situation. "With respect to the Pokémon Trading Card Game offered by The Pokémon Company, which is an equity-method subsidiary of Nintendo, we are aware of instances where limited-quantity cards are purchased in large volume, leading to high-priced reselling in the market," he stated. He added that The Pokémon Company is implementing "various measures, including made-to-order sales and agreements with marketplace operators."
Further initiatives mentioned include plans for online priority drawings that will utilize account verification through Japan’s My Number Cards, aiming to ensure fairer access to products. Nintendo maintains communication with The Pokémon Company to strategize on "appropriate ways to deliver products to consumers," with Furukawa expressing confidence that The Pokémon Company will continue to implement responsive measures.
The popularity of the Pokémon Trading Card Game is underscored by recent sales figures, which indicate that 85 billion cards have been produced to date. A significant portion of this production, 10 billion cards, was manufactured in 2025 alone, a substantial increase from previous years. Despite these efforts to boost manufacturing—with as many cards printed in the last four years as in the preceding 25—demand continues to outstrip supply, a situation unlikely to ease soon, especially with an anticipated 30th-anniversary set planned for September.