The Pokémon Center may be on the verge of rolling out new security features designed to curb the rampant bot activity that has plagued recent trading card game pre-orders. Anxiety has been high among fans as the company has gradually released waves of 30th-anniversary merchandise, with automated programs often securing products before collectors can even access the website.
According to reports from retail-tracking Discord servers with access to The Pokémon Center's backend systems, changes to the website's security protocols are imminent. Previously, a CAPTCHA was used to manage traffic, but this proved insufficient against sophisticated bots. The new system is said to involve more dynamic challenges, such as a 'Rotation Match' where users must grab and position a moving object, alongside other potential tests like 'Path Follow' and 'Target Align'. These measures are intended to be difficult to automate and aim to ensure that actual human buyers have a fairer chance at securing limited items.
While the effectiveness of these new measures remains to be seen, with bot developers already reportedly looking for workarounds, the prospect of a temporary setback for scalpers has been met with optimism by the Pokémon TCG community. This potential update comes at a critical time, as the next highly anticipated drop is rumored to be the Ultra Premium Collection, an Eeveelution-themed box priced at $179.99. Given its high cost and desirable content, it is expected to be one of the most difficult items to obtain at its retail price.
The introduction of these enhanced security measures could coincide with the pre-order launch for the Ultra Premium Collection, which sources suggest is already loaded into The Pokémon Center's systems. These alleged updates align with recent adjustments made by retailers like Target and Walmart, which have also implemented changes to combat bots and resellers.
Pokémon fans are preparing for a potential new pre-order opportunity in early August. Several other 30th-anniversary products, including the Ditto Premium Collection and Figure Collection, have yet to be released. The initial wave of 30th-anniversary products is scheduled to launch on September 16.