Pokémon TCG Cards Now Accessible to Japanese Players as Prices Plummet

Recently, Japanese players have found Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) cards more accessible as prices drop from previous highs, the result of decreased investor activity and speculation. On October 25, 2017, a user named Avenger expressed interest in rejoining the Pokémon Trading Card Game community. Now, with more affordable cards around 25 euros, many children are able to resume collecting and playing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pokémon TCG card values soared, leading to increased activity from scalpers and thieves. Subsequently, the rise of high-quality counterfeit cards has further contributed to the price decline, making it difficult to distinguish fakes from genuine articles. For example, the Lillie Full Art card, illustrated by Naoki Saito, has dropped in price from 65,000 to under 15,000. Similarly, the MEGA Dream ex, a MEGA High Class Pack for the Pokémon Card Game, and the Battle Partners, a Pokémon Card Game Scarlet & Violet Expansion Pack, both retail for US.

Pokémon TCG Regulation I Era Introduces New Rarities in Japan, Affecting Prices on SNKRDUNK

In January 2026, Japan will change its Pokémon TCG Standard format to Regulations H, I, and J. The Regulation I era introduces three new rarities: BWR (BlackWhite Rare), MA (MEGA Attack Rare), and MUR (MEGA Ultra Rare). Prices on resale platforms like SNKRDUNK, a popular Japanese app for streetwear and trading cards, reflect this market correction. Western Pokémon card players also benefit from investors withdrawing and reduced card speculation, although this change primarily affects the One Piece Trading Card Game in Western regions.

In Case You Missed It

In other news, our gaming guru Bruno Pferd has just dropped an exclusive first look into the live-action God of War series. Titled "First Image from Live-Action God of War Series Reveals Kratos and Atreus," his latest post (published on February 27, 2026) unveils Amazon Prime Video's ambitious take on the PlayStation epic. The snapshot shows Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus, setting off on their Norse odyssey to fulfill Faye's final wish. While fan reactions are mixed over the character designs, we're eager to see how this star-studded cast brings our favorite Greek-Norse warrior and his son to life. Speaking of gaming adaptations, Bruno also recently explored Amazon's first-look at their 'God of War' series in his insightful post on Players for Life. Published just last week, February 27th, the article dives into the mixed reactions sparked by the promotional image, which replicates a iconic scene from the hit PlayStation game. Bruno delves into the debate surrounding the image's artificial feel and the potential use of AI in its creation. Meanwhile, Carlos Mendoza has been keeping tabs on Sony HQ, revealing that after a series of less-than-stellar standalone films, Sony's big boss has confirmed a complete universe reboot for Spider-Man movies – sans your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. But don't lose hope just yet, as the live-action "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is rumored to be swinging in to save the day. Check out Bruno's post on God of War here First Image from Live-Action God of War Series Reveals Kratos and Atreus, his analysis on the mixed reactions here God of War: Amazon's First Image Sparks Widespread Internet Disappointment, and Carlos' piece on Spider-Man's universe reboot here Sony to Reset Spider-Man Movies Universe Without Spider-Man.