Pokémon TCG Destined Rivals Launch Faces Online Queue Issues and Order Cancellations

Pokémon Trading Card Game fans encountered significant turbulence during the highly anticipated launch of the Destined Rivals set.

The Pokémon Company's latest expansion went on sale via the official Pokémon Center online store, drawing massive attention from collectors and competitive players alike.

However, technical setbacks, prolonged online queues, and post-sale order cancellations have overshadowed the arrival of one of 2025’s most sought-after Pokémon TCG releases. Released on March 25, 2025, Destined Rivals quickly garnered unprecedented traffic on the Pokémon Center platform, particularly for the Elite Trainer Box (ETB), a perennial favorite among fans.

Users reported encountering hours-long virtual queues, frequent site errors, and an overall frustrating checkout process.

The immediate aftermath saw a surge in resale activity, with ETBs appearing on third-party marketplaces such as eBay at considerably marked-up prices—fueling long-standing concerns over scalping and bot-driven purchases in the trading card market. In response to widespread community frustration, The Pokémon Company issued a carefully worded statement to Video Games Chronicle (VGC), addressing the issues that plagued the launch.

The company affirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless purchasing experience to Pokémon Center customers, explaining that the virtual queue was implemented specifically "to help provide a more seamless purchasing process during periods of increased site traffic." The statement further noted that the company will "continue to explore measures that help create the best possible experience for Pokémon Center customers." Despite these reassurances, many customers who believed they had successfully pre-ordered the Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box soon discovered their orders had been quietly canceled.

This was often only revealed upon manual status checks on the Pokémon Center website, rather than through direct notification or apology from The Pokémon Company.

The lack of transparency around the cancellations further fueled dissatisfaction among the fanbase. Adding to the turmoil, a notable number of fans exited the purchasing process empty-handed, while social media channels lit up with reports of scalped Destined Rivals items appearing with inflated price tags almost immediately after the launch.

These developments highlight ongoing challenges faced by high-demand collectible releases and the persistent impact of automated scalping tools. The Pokémon Company has previously experimented with anti-scalping measures in select regions, such as removing plastic wrapping on orders in the Philippines, in an effort to deter profit-driven resellers.

However, until a more robust, global solution is in place, launches for coveted TCG products like Destined Rivals are likely to remain highly competitive and often frustrating for devoted collectors. Pokémon TCG continues to enjoy tremendous worldwide popularity, and the demand for new sets on the Pokémon Center, as well as platforms like Nintendo Switch’s digital eShop, shows no sign of waning.

For now, fans are advised to monitor order status updates closely and remain vigilant as The Pokémon Company works toward improving the online acquisition process for future releases.

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