This weekend is a giant one for followers and gamers of aggressive Pokémon. 1000’s of followers are gathering within the Anaheim Conference Heart to observe one of the best of one of the best battle one another in Scarlet and Violet. Nevertheless, not everyone seems to be there to have an excellent time. For some folks, the price of attendance is merely a enterprise expense. Like every other Pokémon event or collaboration in latest reminiscence, scalpers have descended upon Anaheim to purchase up unique Pokémon merch after which promote it for a revenue. I actually wished to go to Worlds this yr, as I’ve been a Pokémon fan most of my life and nonetheless haven’t been to one of many championship competitions, however whereas the match is simply starting, the vibes appear so rancid I’m unsure it will make for an ideal first impression.
It looks as if each different week we right here at Kotaku are writing about some absolute nonsense within the Pokémon group, as scalpers have made full-time jobs out of shopping for up playing cards and collectibles for a fast buck. The controversial apply has turn into so profitable for these grown-ass adults that gross sales devolve into actual acts of violence or crowds find yourself jockeying to rummage through shelves prefer it’s Black Friday. A part of me feels some sympathy for individuals who should resort to this as a result of instances are powerful and it’s simpler than arduous labor, however particularly contemplating this franchise has most likely introduced me extra pleasure than some other for many of my life, it actually sucks to see that each new occasion or merch drop now makes me really feel so deeply cynical.
The Anaheim occasion has solely been happening for a day, and there are already reports of resellers setting up shop in neighboring hotels close to the conference heart, with others responding by placing up signage prohibiting such wheeling and dealing. Aggressive gamers are posting on social media about promoting merchandise for greater than they paid for it. What is meant to be an enormous group gathering has turn into one thing else completely, and it’s made it more durable to be a fan when you’ll be able to’t even have interaction with it with out having to push by folks with unhealthy intentions.
I actually actually dislike how pokemon worlds has turned from a celebration of aggressive pokemon to taking something remotely helpful and scalping it for a revenue.
— Tyson Blätter (@T_Blatt) August 14, 2025
Worlds Pokemon Heart displaying us as soon as once more that capitalism ruins the whole lot folks love 🙂
— Sawyer Melban (@sawyerhatemail) August 14, 2025
I don’t perceive why some persons are complaining that we introduced our daughter to the Pokemon Heart yesterday. That is actually a household sport. We should always have the ability to go in there with out folks bumping into our stroller and smacking my child within the face with their procuring baggage.…
— Michele Lesage (@M_LesagePTCG) August 14, 2025
Attending the Pokémon Heart is genuinely a security danger resulting from all of the shoving and preventing over product that is happening
It is shameful and ridiculous that we as a group have devolved to the purpose that this habits is commonplace.
Disgrace on all of you appearing this fashion.
— PokeDuels (@PokeDuelsTikTok) August 14, 2025
Attendees are reporting a better experience on the Worlds store right now, but it surely’s arduous to scrub off the stench scalpers depart when each occasion has some horror story hooked up to it by which individuals who aren’t even followers present as much as reap the benefits of those that are. So it begs the query: Is Pokémon simply cooked as a interest now? After practically 30 years, has the franchise’s popularity turn into so sullied by individuals who purchase its merchandise simply to promote it to different folks that longtime devotees are leaving it behind? The Pokémon franchise is simply too far-reaching to essentially be affected by this phenomenon, which numerous collectors consider is why The Pokémon Firm doesn’t do a lot to essentially cease it. Buy limits on new merchandise are useful, however they don’t cease scalpers from displaying up earlier than shops put playing cards on the shelf, making a number of accounts to buy gadgets on-line, or inflicting a ruckus at occasions like Worlds.
You’d assume continually being within the headlines for robberies, chaotic gross sales, and even precise violence related together with your product can be damaging sufficient to the model that TPC can be motivated to take actual motion. However once more, Pokémon is so prolific that TPC doesn’t truly obtain any chip harm from this. A sale to a scalper places the identical sum of money in Pikachu’s pockets as one to a faithful fan. The meeting line will maintain going, and except folks cease shopping for from them, scalpers will maintain displaying up. As I mentioned earlier, Pokémon has introduced me extra pleasure than most likely some other sequence. As of late, nonetheless, that pleasure is getting drowned out by cynicism each time some occasion takes place that must be reminding me why I fell in love with Pokémon within the first place.
