DeNA Plans a Big Overhaul for Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Card Collection — What Collectors Need to Know
DeNA has confirmed it’s working on a major update to Pokemon TCG Pocket’s collection systems after noticing a drop in player retention. If you’re a digital card collector or a competitive player frustrated by booster luck, set-bound currencies, and an aggressive expansion schedule, this announcement could be the change you’ve been waiting for.
Why the collection experience needs fixing
Since launch, many players have pointed out a few persistent problems that make building a complete, competitive collection feel unrewarding:
- RNG-heavy booster pulls: Rare chase cards depend entirely on luck with no meaningful safety nets.
- No pity system: There’s no guarantee of a rare after a number of unlucky packs — something many card games use to preserve goodwill.
- Pack Points locked to individual sets: Loyalty currency can’t be used across expansions, which fragments progress and reduces long-term value.
- Rapid expansion cadence: New sets appear quickly, making it hard for collectors to catch up before the next set drops.
These issues have apparently affected long-term engagement, pushing DeNA to publicly acknowledge the problem and plan corrective action.
What DeNA officially revealed (Q1 2025 report)
DeNA’s Q1 2025 financial report explicitly states that the retention rate for existing users is down compared with the initial launch window and that the company is “planning and developing a major update” focused on the collection experience. The report sets a deadline for this overhaul: before December 31, 2025.
Other notable figures in the report:
- 39 million monthly active users for Pokemon TCG Pocket — a substantial audience for a digital card game.
- About 60% of microtransaction revenue comes from players outside Japan, highlighting the game’s international monetization footprint.
What players and collectors are hoping the update includes
Fans have been vocal about sensible quality-of-life and fairness changes. Here are the most-requested improvements likely to appear in speculation and wishlists:
- Unified Pack Points: Letting loyalty credits be used across sets would make saving and targeting specific cards realistic.
- Soft pity system: A gentle guarantee or increasing odds after repeated unlucky pulls, especially for chase cards like Pokemon ex.
- Crafting / wildcards: Convert duplicates or fragments into specific cards you need.
- Guaranteed or rotating set offers: Periodic reruns or pack/bundle shops to get older cards without grinding RNG.
- Improved collection UI: Filters, tracking goals, progress milestones and clearer trade visibility for collectors.
Timing: Will the overhaul hit the one-year anniversary?
Many expect the patch to land around Pokemon TCG Pocket’s first anniversary on October 30, but there are reasons to be cautious. The previous major update — an overhaul of the Trading feature — took DeNA almost six months to roll out. If the collection overhaul is as deep or deeper, the October window might be optimistic, although DeNA’s public deadline remains the end of 2025.
Either way, DeNA’s statement suggests this isn’t a small balance tweak but a multi-faceted project targeting core systems that influence retention and monetization.
How an improved collection system could help retention (and revenue)
A fairer card acquisition model does two things at once:
- It makes players feel rewarded for time and money, increasing long-term engagement.
- It preserves monetization because satisfied players are more likely to spend on predictable, meaningful goals.
For example, a unified currency or wildcard crafting reduces the frustration of being locked out of desired cards, while a soft pity system reduces the “waste” feeling that leads players to stop logging in.
How collectors should prepare now
Whether you’re a completionist or a competitive meta-builder, here are practical steps to get ready for the upcoming overhaul:
- Hold off on impulse purchases: If you suspect Pack Points may be unified, save them until the announcement so you don’t lose potential value.
- Catalog your collection: Take screenshots or use a tracker so you know what duplicates you have and what you actually need.
- Participate in trades and events: Use the current systems to maximize what you can trade or earn before changes arrive.
- Follow official channels: DeNA’s roadmap updates and community posts will be the first indication of timing and specifics.
What this means for the long-term future of Pokemon TCG Pocket
If DeNA successfully retools the collection experience, Pokemon TCG Pocket could become a stickier, more sustainable digital card ecosystem — one that balances RNG excitement with predictable progression. The company’s international revenue profile and tens of millions of monthly users give it both the incentive and the resources to get this right.
For players and collectors, the coming months are a good time to prepare, stay engaged with the community, and set realistic expectations: DeNA has recognized the problem and set a deadline, but the size and timing of the update remain uncertain.
Want to weigh in? Share how you’d like Pack Points handled or what a perfect pity system would look like — the community’s voice will matter as this overhaul takes shape.
