The world of mobile gaming has been abuzz recently, and not for reasons that fans had hoped. Pokemon TCG Pocket revenue has plummeted sharply, with September 2025 being one of its biggest falls since launch. What was once touted as a new and exciting method with which to enjoy the much-loved trading card game now has a mountainous task on its hands to retain gamers and financial drive.
Following a record-breaking launch in October 2024, Pokémon TCG Pocket rapidly rose through the ranks. It took $2.7 million on its opening day and surpassed $400 million in revenue in its first two months. For a brief moment, it even surpassed Pokémon Go, a feat considered impossible by many. But cut to this fall, and statistics paint a different picture. September witnessed a mind-boggling 56.6% decline in Pokémon TCG Pocket revenue, which declined to a mere $23 million. Downloads also fell by an alarming 46.4%, and iOS player activity in October fell by almost 60%.
Why Are Players Losing Interest?
Fans cite the game’s over-reliance on monthly expansion packs, which feel more like cash-ins than serious content additions. The recent Deluxe Pack EX, for instance, was derided for its inclusion of duplicate and filler cards, leaving many players frustrated and disconnected. Although the game’s simplified mechanics initially made it accessible, the lack of strategic depth and evolving gameplay has become increasingly frustrating.
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What’s in Store for Pokémon TCG Pocket?
This is not the first indication of issues. Pokémon TCG Pocket revenue had also been dwindling during 2025. There was a 26.7% drop during April, followed by additional declines in June and July. While August did see a slight recovery, September’s plunge indicates more severe problems with player retention and revenue.
Game developer DeNA is taking action. A big update is rumored to be coming for the game’s first anniversary, perhaps adding Mega Evolution cards and modes in order to stimulate interest once more. Whether such an effort will be enough to stem the tide remains to be seen.
