Pokémon trading cards are their own economy
The Vergecast
- Published
- September 29, 2026
- Duration
- 34:47
- Summary source
- description
- Last updated
- Sep 30, 2026
Discusses The Pokémon Trading Card Game isn't just a game, it's an economy. Livestreamers provide vicarious do…
Summary
The Pokémon Trading Card Game isn't just a game, it's an economy. Livestreamers provide vicarious dopamine hits to viewers who tune in to watch them open booster packs, and the rarest cards can resell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The game's 30th anniversary collection just launched, putting more copies of the game's rarest cards back into ci…
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Show notes
The Pokémon Trading Card Game isn't just a game, it's an economy. Livestreamers provide vicarious dopamine hits to viewers who tune in to watch them open booster packs, and the rarest cards can resell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The game's 30th anniversary collection just launched, putting more copies of the game's rarest cards back into circulation. Guest host David Imel talks about the state of the Pokémon TCG market with The Verge's film, TV and pop culture reporter Charles Pul