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 Leads to Shortage

Pokémon Company Increases Production to Meet Demand

On January 16, 2025, IGN reported that The Pokémon Company is actively working to resolve the shortage of Prismatic Evolutions. A 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 to address this." While fans may need to wait, the company's commitment to increasing production 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 revealed that local US stores are severely impacted due to unexpectedly high demand. Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, a major Pokémon store in Maryland, commented, "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 orders led distributors to limit supplies by 10% to 15% for smaller retailers. This resulted in larger chains like GameStop and Target receiving a disproportionate share of the stock, leaving smaller local stores facing significant shortages. The limited availability has also driven up prices on the secondary market; the upcoming Elite Trainer Box, for example, is already selling for $127 USD (retail price: $55). However, once supply increases, these inflated prices are expected to decrease.

Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions: Announcement and Release Details

Announced on November 1, 2024, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions launched on January 17, 2025. The expansion 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 products, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin (featuring Eevee and its evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex), launched on February 7, 2025. A Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection will follow on March 7 and April 25, 2025, respectively. Fans could also experience the set digitally via Pokémon TCG Live on January 16, 2025, across iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.