Pokémon Trading Card Game collectors have faced a difficult run of 30th anniversary pre-orders. New stock waves on the Pokémon Center have often disappeared before genuine shoppers could complete the process, with automated buying tools and scalpers competing against people waiting to enter the queue.
That situation could change soon. Retail-tracking Discord communities with access to the Pokémon Center’s backend report that the store is preparing additional security measures.
A tougher check before the queue
Until now, customers attempting to buy cards have generally completed a CAPTCHA before joining the queue. While that step helped manage the flow of visitors, it did not prevent bots from securing popular products.
Images circulating across several large Pokémon Discord servers appear to show a different type of challenge. In one example, the shopper must pick up a moving object and position it in the correct area. The graphic identifies that test as “Rotation Match”, alongside challenges called “Path Follow” and “Target Align”.
There are no confirmed public examples of the new checks operating yet. However, the apparent use of movement and interaction could make them more difficult for basic purchasing bots to automate.
For human customers, the intended result would be a fairer chance of reaching the queue and buying cards. The drawback is that the security design has reportedly circulated before launch, giving bot developers time to look for ways around it.
The Ultra Premium Collection could be the real test
Collectors are watching the next release particularly closely because it is rumoured to include the most expensive item in the anniversary range: the Eeveelution-themed Ultra Premium Collection.
The box has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $179.99, yet pre-orders are already being offered by vendors at several times that amount. Its price and sought-after promo cards were expected to make it one of the hardest anniversary products to obtain at MSRP.
The situation could improve if the new anti-bot system launches alongside the Ultra Premium Collection pre-orders. The product is reportedly already loaded into the Pokémon Center’s backend, while recent tweaks to Target and Walmart websites have also aimed to limit bots and scalpers.
More anniversary products are still to come
Pokémon fans are preparing for a possible new pre-order opportunity during the first week of August. Alongside the Ultra Premium Collection, the Ditto Premium Collection and Figure Collection have not yet gone on sale.
The first wave of 30th anniversary products is scheduled for release on 16 September. Until the next Pokémon Center drop arrives, collectors can only wait to see whether the new security checks are genuinely effective or simply create another hurdle in the buying process.
For more coverage of gaming and collector hardware, visit RETROCADE’s arcade news. Readers planning a dedicated gaming setup can also browse the arcade machine buying guide, explore available arcade cabinets, or compare space-saving bartop arcades.
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