Pokémon cards are a passion for the most enthusiastic fans, and their demand has increased significantly since the pandemic started, perhaps due to the franchise's 25th anniversary, influencers, and other factors. So much so that in 2021, a collector paid over $300,000 for a Charizard card, while others in the United States caused disturbances outside stores for special cards.
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There are several cases like this, and an apparent solution from the creators of these coveted items, The Pokémon Company, is to significantly increase the production of cards worldwide.
According to a recent report from the Polygon portal, The Pokémon Company flooded the market with over 9 billion Pokémon cards in 2021. This is a record number that almost triples what was produced in 2020, when 3.7 billion cards were made.
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Likewise, it is a surprising measure for fans and the community in general, as before 2020 -when the previous historical high was reached- usually between one to two billion cards were produced per year, as indicated by the English-speaking media.
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It is worth mentioning that since the Pokémon Trading Card Game was launched in 1996, never before have so many cards been created. What was produced between 2020 and 2022 represents more than a quarter of the total production of these sought-after collectibles.
According to experts, The Pokémon Company's measure of flooding the market aims to lower card prices and keep store shelves full. They also indicate that the strategy seems to be working, as there is no shortage and prices in primary and secondary markets have moderated. Similarly, rare Pokémon cards still cause fans and collectors to spend large amounts of money.