The latest Pokémon mobile game is here, with Pokémon TCG Pocket releasing just last week after a lot of build-up and hype. The game has been received incredibly well by fans, and that fan response is coming with some big cash benefits for The Pokémon Company. After just four days on sale, the free app Pokémon TCG Pocket has already made over $12 million – that’s $3 million per day average spending. The data comes from Appmagic, and was thankfully provided publicly by the folks over at MobileGamer.biz.
That whopping amount of money isn’t distributed evenly amongst the player base, as a huge 45% of it comes from the Japanese player base, followed by 25% of the revenue coming from the USA. Pokémon TCG Pocket has done a great job at appealing to a broad amount of people, with its original 151 Pokémon focus being an attractive way to get older fans to play, while its streamlined and simplified interpretation of the TCG game is sure to entice younger players into the game too.
It’s refreshing to see Pokémon TCG Pocket succeed given how predatory the mobile gaming market is known to be. In a world of huge pay-to-win buffs from randomised drops and obscene amounts of in-app purchases, Pokémon TCG Pocket almost encourages players to take it slow, giving a free pack every 12 hours, with an easy way to earn more without paying. Sure, you can drop a load of cash if you want to, but with the relaxing vibes the game possesses it would feel like a waste to pay out and race your way to the finish line.
It’s not clear yet how long Pokémon TCG Pocket will remain such a success, given its relatively finite amount of cards available at launch. The frequency of updates will do a lot to tell us about how much further we can expect the game to go, but for now, we’ll just be taking it easy and earning our twice daily packs. Despite the huge earnings in its first week, Pokémon TCG Pocket reminds us to take things slow and have fun as we go.
Have you downloaded Pokémon TCG Pocket, and how are you finding the game so far? Sound off in the comments below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more gaming news and Pokémon coverage.
