The Pokémon Company has a new virtual card collecting game called “ Pokémon Trading Card Game Bag on Tuesday. Following the reveal, fans expressed concerns online that the game would contain non-fungible tokens (NFTs). However, it now looks like NFTs won’t play a role in the new game. In a statement released to Polygon, a representative from the Pokémon Company said it “has not developed or approved any Pokémon NFTs.”
Pokémon Trading Card Game Bag is a new game from Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc. and DeNA, the developers of Pokémon Masters EX. We only got a first trailer on Monday, but it’s already clear that the game will have a strong focus on collecting digital cards. Because of this, fans wondered if these digital card collectibles could be sold as NFTs. One person called the new game an “NFT scam” and another said that the developers created “Pokémon NFTs in 2024.”
Polygon reached out to the Pokémon Company to clarify the development team’s plans. In response, a representative said that the company “has not developed or approved any non-fungible tokens (NFTs) related to the Pokémon brand and associated intellectual property” and that any NFTs sold with Pokémon intellectual property , “unofficial and in no way affiliated with The Pokémon Company International or the Pokémon brand.”
You can read the full statement below:
The Pokémon Company International has not developed or approved any non-fungible tokens (NFTs) related to the Pokémon brand and related intellectual property. Fans should be aware that any NFTs on the market containing Pokémon intellectual property are unofficial and are in no way affiliated with The Pokémon Company International or the Pokémon brand.
The idea of NFTs in a Pokémon game is strange. Sure, many gaming companies have tried to find ways to integrate NFTs into games and have invested in the technology, but overall NFTs in games have been a bust. fans of Video games have rejected NFTss, and the wider one The crypto market that supported NFTs also crashed. Additionally, NFTs’ need for blockchain technology would pose logistical challenges for development and does not seem to fit a family-friendly brand like Pokémon.
Plus, in the end it’s just unnecessary. Video game developers don’t need NFTs to create valuable and limited virtual items – just look at how much people spend on cosmetics in a live service game. The developers haven’t revealed many details about the monetization model for this game, but this is what we know Bag will be a free-to-play game and players will be able to “open two booster packs for free every day,” the press release states.
My personal guess is that Bag There will be in-game purchases where people can buy more card packs to try and get a coveted card, just like fans do in real life. And just like in real life, people may be willing to spend exorbitant amounts to get the sparkly cards of their favorite Pokémon.
