Pokémon’s newest anti-scalper tool didn’t seem to appear for Pitch Black
Pokémon Pitch Black’s pre-launch sales turned into a frenzy, yet the early access system was nowhere to be seen. Why?
Considering the less-hyped release of Chaos Rising and Perfect Order, all eyes were on Pitch Black, delivering a hefty dose of eyeliner and edgy Pokémon cards that collectors, myself included, had their eyes on. It was clear that the stars aligned for a big pre-order surge, yet as things turned chaotic, I only had one question: where’s the invite system?
In April this year, The Pokémon Company shared an ‘Early Access FAQs’ support article, which is its name for the Pokémon Center invite system. According to the system, it seems to strike a balance between the typical lottery systems that some retailers offer and the strict requirements of the recent Japanese limits, both of which have been received positively by the Pokémon TCG community.
Collectors haven’t been informed about who is eligible for the program, and according to the company, that’s intentional. “Note that the Pokémon Center does not share eligibility criteria,” the FAQs state. However, being subscribed to the newsletter is required, and if you are selected, you’d be invited to purchase stock before anyone else.
While this doesn’t guarantee product availability, it does give selected collectors a better chance at securing new Pokémon sets without spending hours in virtual queues. Even if you want some unique merch, the early access system says that any item, even pre-orders, can be part of the offer.
So, where was it during the Pokémon Pitch Black pre-orders?
I can understand it being unavailable for Chaos Rising’s pre-sale, as the expansion was due to launch in just over a month when the system was announced. However, it’s been two months, and considering how frustrating the Pokémon Center drop of Pitch Black turned into, the early access system would’ve been an excellent opportunity for collectors to get stock.
Based on my own research across multiple Pokémon TCG Discord servers, collector subreddits, and social media discussions following the launch, I couldn’t find any evidence that Early Access invitations were distributed for Pitch Black. I’ve seen some rumours suggesting it was used lightly for Pokémon Phantasmal Flames’ restock and Chaos Rising. Although, no evidence was shared for either of those claims, and both users suggested it was someone they knew personally.
The most likely explanation would be that the system is being soft-launched and tested ahead of the Pokémon 30th Celebration set. It would make sense, considering the frenzy of Pitch Black is likely just a small taster of what to expect when the anniversary expansion releases. However, it’s clear that this system is needed now more than ever, with how hard it is to access Pokémon Center stock.
Yet, if that is the case, Pitch Black would’ve been the perfect opportunity - and likely the final opportunity - to test and ensure it works as suggested. If things go awry when the 30th Celebration expansion drops, it could lead to a lot of resentment in the community.
Plenty of retailers are moving or already offer invite or limited-customer drops for Pokémon TCG products, so it’s not a surprising system. However, where Pokémon offers exclusive products, getting invited makes even more sense. Once they’re gone, restocks rarely - if ever - happen, and that’s frustrating for those simply looking to open packs.
I’ve reached out to my local Pokémon representative for comment ahead of publication, and I will update this article with any comments.
The early access system still has the potential to become one of Pokémon’s most effective tools against scalping. However, if collectors are going to trust it ahead of 30th Celebration, they’ll likely want to see it in action first.
While the early access system may have been missing in action, Kanto Post won’t be. If you want to be kept up-to-date on all things Pokémon, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter above. Make sure to also check out our list of the Pokémon Pitch Black chase cards, if you’re hoping to get some packs ordered.
