Pokémon Trading Card Game - statistics & facts
It is time to answer an age-old question. What came first, the Pokémon Trading Card Game or the Pokémon video game? You would think that given the medium of playing cards is older that they came first, but the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) was actually based on Nintendo’s 1996 “Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow” Game Boy video game. Originally released in Japan, the Pokémon Trading Card Game expanded to the United States and has since become a global phenomenon. As of 2023, almost 53 billion Pokémon TCG cards have been produced worldwide, in as many as 89 countries and regions. Meanwhile, the annual number of new Pokémon cards produced globally has seen year-over-year growth over the past five years.
While an integral part of the game, it is not all about collecting. Pokémon TCG is a strategy-based card game where two players use their Pokémon cards to battle one another. The game has even moved into the virtual world with Pokémon TCG Live. Not only is it played online, it is also viewed virtually, too. In 2023, Pokémon TCG events on the video streaming service Twitch were watched by an average of 1,214 viewers a day.
Are Pokémon trading cards collectors’ items or games?
Although the game was launched almost 30 years ago, the value of Pokémon TCG cards has skyrocketed in recent years. In a mission to “Catch 'Em All”, Pokémon trading card enthusiasts have dished out considerable sums to acquire rare cards. As of 2023, the most expensive Pokémon trading card to be sold at auction in the world was an Illustrator CoroCoro Comics Promo (Pikachu illustrator card), selling for six million U.S. dollars.While an integral part of the game, it is not all about collecting. Pokémon TCG is a strategy-based card game where two players use their Pokémon cards to battle one another. The game has even moved into the virtual world with Pokémon TCG Live. Not only is it played online, it is also viewed virtually, too. In 2023, Pokémon TCG events on the video streaming service Twitch were watched by an average of 1,214 viewers a day.
