The Pokemon Company confirms that the official Pokemon TCG Online app is being shut down and removed from online storefronts. Although PokemonTCG Online will no longer be playable soon, players may look forward to the global launch of the game's successor in the near future.
Originally released in March 2011 for PC browsers, PokemonTCG Online is a video game adaptation of the ever-popular Pokemon Trading Card Game. PokemonTCG Online would simulate the tabletop card game with role-playing elements from the renowned Pokemon game series for Nintendo consoles. Players may challenge computer-controlled opponents with preset card decks or face off against other players with their own custom decks online. The game would receive support and subsequent mobile releases by The Pokemon Company over the past 12 years. However, support for PokemonTCG Online is coming to an end as The Pokemon Company prepares for the global launch of a new title.
The Pokemon Company announced Pokemon TCG Online is officially shutting down before the launch of Pokemon TCG Live, which is the next game in the Pokemon TCG series. The Pokemon TCG Online app will be removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Pokemon.com, and the game's servers will be shut down permanently. Further, Pokemon TCG Online will no longer receive new Pokemon TCG products, cards, or deck accessories starting March 1, 2023. Pokemon TCG Online will continue to support Versus Ladder reward tracks and bug fixes leading up to the game's shutdown.
According to The Pokemon Company, Pokemon TCG Online's shutdown helps ensure more development resources are dedicated to Pokemon TCG Live. A shutdown date for Pokemon TCG Online was not given, but The Pokemon Company promises to share more information as the Pokemon TCG Live beta continues. Additional information about the shutdown will be provided through the official Pokemon Support website. Moreover, more details about Pokemon TCG Live, including a release date, will likely be revealed in the near future.
Since the game's shutdown is officially confirmed, Pokemon TCG Online players can prepare for the launch of Pokemon TCG Live by participating in the beta. The Pokemon TCG Live beta allows players to transfer their Pokemon TCG Online collection. The transfer process will be accessible in the full release of Pokemon TCG Live since both titles use the same Pokemon Trainer Club account service.
The Pokemon Support website has in-depth information about transferring data from Pokemon TCG Online to Pokemon TCG Live, which is welcoming for new and old players alike. Pokemon fans can expect more details about Pokemon TCG Live as The Pokemon Company prepares for a potentially historic launch in the tabletop card game genre.
Pokemon TCG Online is available now for Android, iOS, Mac, and PC.
Source: The Pokemon Company
