Prismatic Evolutions Shortage Prompts Pokemon TCG to Rush to Print More

The Pokémon Company is addressing a significant stock shortage of its latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Read on to discover the cause of the shortage and the company's response.

Pokémon's Latest Expansion: High Demand Creates Shortage

The Pokémon Company Increases Production

Following reports of widespread shortages, the Pokémon Company announced on January 16, 2025 (as reported by IGN) that they are increasing production of Prismatic Evolutions to meet the unexpectedly high demand.

A Pokémon Company spokesperson stated, "We’re aware that some fans may experience difficulties purchasing certain Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions products at launch due to high demand impacting availability. We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokémon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity."

While fans may need to wait longer to acquire the new set, the Pokémon Company's commitment to addressing the issue is reassuring.

High Demand Impacts US Retail Stores

The shortage was first highlighted on January 4, 2025, by the Pokémon TCG fan website, PokeBeach. The report detailed how the unexpectedly high demand significantly impacted smaller, local US stores.

Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, a major Pokémon store in Maryland, explained, "I think a large part of the issue is that stores who do not normally order Pokémon are requesting to buy this set from distributors." This surge in demand led distributors to limit supplies to local retailers by 10% to 15%, resulting in a disproportionate distribution favoring larger chains like GameStop and Target.

The scarcity is also driving up prices on the secondary market. The upcoming Elite Trainer Box, for example, is already fetching $127 USD, significantly above its $55 retail price. However, it's anticipated that increased stock levels will eventually mitigate this price inflation.

Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions: 2024 Announcement and Release Schedule

Initially announced on November 1, 2024, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions launched on January 17, 2025. The set features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork. Notable examples include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex (illustrated by Yukihiro Tada) and Roaring Moon ex (by Shinji Kanda).

Additional product releases are scheduled for:

• February 7, 2025: Surprise Box and Mini Tin (featuring Eevee and its evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex).
• March 7, 2025: Booster Bundle.
• April 25, 2025: Pouch Special Collection.

A digital version of the set became available in Pokémon TCG Live on January 16, 2025, for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.