More anti-scalping measures are being implemented by Nintendo.
Obtaining certain Pokémon Trading Card Game products in Japan is about to become even more difficult, as The Pokémon Company has begun rolling out its first ID-gated purchase restrictions to combat scalpers.
According to a report by Sora News, The Pokémon Company has started requiring identity verification for select Pokémon TCG products sold through the Pokémon Center Online store, making them available only to shoppers with Japan's government-issued My Number Card. The move follows the company's recent rollout of facial recognition checks at select Pokémon Card Gym stores in Japan, another anti-scalping measure aimed at making it harder for resellers to bulk-buy sought-after products.
What items in the Pokémon online store require a Japanese ID?
The first products to receive the new identity verification requirement are all part of the upcoming Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration series.
They include:
- Pokémon Card Game Mega Expansion Pack 30th Celebration Box: 7,200 yen (approximately US$46)
- Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Futuristic Box: 27,500 yen (approximately US$174)
- Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Espeon and Umbreon Premium Deck Set: 6,200 yen (approximately US$39)
- Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Card Set: 10,800 yen (approximately US$68)
The Pokémon Card Game Mega 30th Celebration Futuristic Box is the most expensive of the four. It includes two Pikachu ex promo cards, card sleeves, a deck case, a display case, a playmat, and other commemorative accessories.
It is currently unclear whether physical Pokémon Center stores in Japan will also require buyers to verify their identity through the Digital Identification App when the products go on sale.
Who is eligible for Pokémon's My Number ID?
Only people with a valid Japanese My Number Card can complete the required identity verification to purchase these products through Pokémon Center Online. This includes Japanese citizens as well as eligible foreign residents registered in Japan.
Players who qualify can find The Pokémon Company's official instructions for linking their My Number Card with the Digital Identification App here.
Why is The Pokémon Company requiring My Number IDs?
The stricter purchasing requirements were first outlined by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa during the company's 86th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in early July.
Responding to a shareholder's question about Pokémon TCG scalping, Furukawa said Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are aware of large-scale purchasing and high-priced resale activity affecting the game. He explained that The Pokémon Company has already introduced measures such as made-to-order sales and agreements with marketplace operators before adding that, for certain online product lotteries, it also plans to use "an account verification method that utilises My Number Cards."
Furukawa added that Nintendo continues to work with The Pokémon Company on the issue, saying the two companies "communicate with The Pokémon Company as needed to discuss appropriate ways to deliver products to consumers." He also said he believes The Pokémon Company "will continue to take measures to respond to this issue."
The latest ID verification requirement marks the first public rollout of that plan, with the highly anticipated Pokémon Card Game 30th Celebration products becoming the first releases to receive the added layer of purchase protection.
