Updated May 3, 2023
The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Online app will be removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Pokemon.com on June 5, 2023, at 9 a.m. PDT prior to the official global launch of Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Live on June 8, 2023. Pokémon TCG Live is currently available in beta to players around the world on iOS and Android devices, as well as PCs and Macs.
Pokémon TCG Online Sunset FAQ
When will the Pokémon TCG Online be sunsetted?
The Pokémon TCG Online app will be removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Pokemon.com—and game servers will be shut down—on June 5, 2023, at 9 a.m. PDT, prior to the official worldwide launch of Pokémon TCG Live on June 8, 2023. Pokémon TCG Live is currently available in beta to players around the world on iOS and Android devices, as well as PCs and Macs.
While the Pokémon TCG Online will remain active until June 5, 2023, no new Pokémon TCG products, cards, or deck accessories have been added to the game since March 1, 2023. This change ensures that more development resources are dedicated to making Pokémon TCG Live the best experience possible for players. While no new content will be supported, the Pokémon TCG Online continues to support new Versus Ladder reward tracks (using items that were available in-game prior to March 1, 2023) and will receive bug fixes as necessary leading up to product sunset on June 5, 2023.
The full list of 2023 Pokémon TCG product releases supported in the Pokémon TCG Online is as follows:
- Launched on January 6, 2023
- Paldea Collection—Sprigatito
- Paldea Collection—Fuecoco
- Paldea Collection—Quaxly
- Knock Out Collection: Galarian Slowking, Galarian Obstagoon, Dragapult
- Enhanced 2-Pack Blister: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres
- Launched on January 19, 2023
- Crown Zenith booster packs
- Crown Zenith Elite Trainer Box
- Crown Zenith Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box
- Crown Zenith Pin Collection—Rillaboom
- Crown Zenith Pin Collection—Cinderace
- Crown Zenith Pin Collection—Inteleon
- Crown Zenith Collection—Regieleki V
- Crown Zenith Collection—Regidrago V
- Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series 2
- Launched on February 16, 2023
- Crown Zenith Special Collection—Pikachu VMAX
- Lucario VSTAR Special Collection
- Kleavor VSTAR Special Collection
Will I still be able to redeem codes in the Pokémon TCG Online after March 1?
If the code comes from a product that was already supported in the Pokémon TCG Online prior to March 1, 2023, it will continue to be redeemable up until the Pokémon TCG Online sunsets on June 5, 2023. Code cards from products that were not supported in the Pokémon TCG Online prior to March 1, 2023, will be redeemable in Pokémon TCG Live only.
When is the official launch date of the Pokémon TCG Live app?
Pokémon TCG Live will officially launch globally on June 8, 2023. The new Scarlet & Violet—Paldea Evolved expansion will be released in Pokémon TCG Live on the same day, allowing players to experience this latest Pokémon TCG expansion in a digital format.
How can I participate in the Pokémon TCG Live beta?
Players can access the beta on mobile devices via the App Store and Google Play, and on Windows PC and macOS devices by downloading the app from the Pokémon TCG Live website. They can also enjoy cross-platform play during the testing period.
Furthermore, existing Pokémon TCG Online players can easily transfer their account and game data to Pokémon TCG Live or have the option of playing the Pokémon TCG Live beta without losing access to the Pokémon TCG Online app ahead of sunset on June 5, 2023. Please be advised that players who migrate their Pokémon TCG Online collection to Pokémon TCG Live ahead of sunset will no longer be able to log in to the Pokémon TCG Online.
Will my progress in the beta be saved once Pokémon TCG Live is officially released?
Yes, Pokémon TCG Live collection data and any in-game progress made during the beta will be carried over to the game at official global launch on June 8, 2023.
Will I still be able to play the Pokémon TCG Online before the sunset date?
Players who do not migrate their Pokémon TCG Online collection to Pokémon TCG Live during the beta will continue to have full access to the Pokémon TCG Online until the app is removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Pokemon.com, on June 5, 2023.
I received code cards that include Pokémon TCG Live branding. Do these code cards work in the Pokémon TCG Online?
Some Pokémon TCG products contain code cards with Pokémon TCG Live branding. If the code comes from a product that’s already supported in the Pokémon TCG Online prior to March 1, 2023, it will continue to be redeemable up until the Pokémon TCG Online sunsets on June 5, 2023. Code cards from products that were not supported in the Pokémon TCG Online prior to March 1, 2023, will be redeemable in Pokémon TCG Live only.
Can code cards redeemed in the Pokémon TCG Online be redeemed again in Pokémon TCG Live?
No, code cards can only be redeemed once, whether that be in the Pokémon TCG Online or in Pokémon TCG Live. However, when logging in to Pokémon TCG Live for the first time, players will be able to transfer items from the Pokémon TCG Online to Pokémon TCG Live. Please see below for additional information on what Pokémon TCG Online items can be transferred to Pokémon TCG Live.
How do I transfer my Pokémon TCG Online account to Pokémon TCG Live?
The Pokémon TCG Online and Pokémon TCG Live both use the same Pokémon Trainer Club account service for log-in. When logging in to Pokémon TCG Live for the first time, any Pokémon TCG Online collection data associated with that Pokémon Trainer Club account will be automatically transferred to Pokémon TCG Live.
During the Pokémon TCG Live beta, Pokémon TCG Online players will be given the option to delay the transfer of their Pokémon TCG Online collection, allowing them to continue playing both apps with the same Pokémon Trainer Club account until the Pokémon TCG Online sunsets on June 5, 2023, or until they choose to migrate their collection before the end of the beta. In addition, players will continue to be able to migrate their account even after the Pokémon TCG Online sunsets, until otherwise notified. Any progress a player makes in Pokémon TCG Live during the beta will not impact their Pokémon TCG Online account.
Please note that items that are already present in a player’s Pokémon TCG Live collection when the collection transfer process is initiated will be factored into the transfer limits. For example, a player who already has three copies of Zacian V (Sword & Shield, 138/202) in their Pokémon TCG Live collection will have a transfer limit of one Zacian V (Sword & Shield, 138/202) rather than four.
How long do I have to migrate my account from the Pokémon TCG Online to Pokémon TCG Live?
There is no current deadline for when Pokémon TCG Online players will need to sign in to Pokémon TCG Live to migrate their account. At this time, players will continue to be able to migrate their account even after the Pokémon TCG Online sunsets. Should this change, players will be notified in advance.
Will I be able to add Pokémon TCG Live to my child’s account?
Yes. As of February 16, 2022, the Pokémon TCG Live app is on the authorized apps page of Pokémon Trainer Club. If you would like this app to be available for your child to play, you will first need to log in and then toggle the “allowed” button to the right.
Is everything from my Pokémon TCG Online account transferable? What about my cards?
Players will be able to transfer the following content from their Pokémon TCG Online account to Pokémon TCG Live:
- Cards: Pokémon TCG cards from the Sword & Shield Series and Sun & Moon Series are transferrable and playable in Pokémon TCG Live at launch. Cards from the XY Series and the Black & White Series are transferrable at launch but will not be playable until future Pokémon TCG Live game updates. Players will be able to transfer up to four copies of a unique Pokémon TCG card; one copy of an ACE SPEC, Prism Star, or Pokémon Star card; one copy of each part of a Pokémon V-UNION card; and 59 copies of a Basic Energy card (excluding non-foil Basic Energy cards without a collector number or expansion icon). Additional copies beyond these limits will not be transferred.
- Accessories: Many coins, card sleeves, and deck boxes are transferrable, with a maximum of one copy per item. Additional copies of coins, card sleeves, and deck boxes will not be transferred.
Pokémon TCG Online players will NOT be able to transfer the following content to Pokémon TCG Live:
- Pokémon TCG cards from the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series
- Pokémon TCG Online original tutorial starter pack cards
- Avatar items and unopened Avatar Collection Boxes
- Unopened products and bundles
- Certain coins, card sleeves, and deck boxes
- In-game currency, including Trainer Tokens and Event Tickets
- Friends list
- Saved deck lists (While deck lists do not automatically transfer, players can export the text of their deck lists and save it locally, and then copy that text into the Deck Editor in Pokémon TCG Live; however, please note that this process must be completed before players begin migrating from the Pokémon TCG Online to Pokémon TCG Live.)
While unopened products and bundles are not transferrable, players will receive a number of Crystals in Pokémon TCG Live that is proportionate to the number of their eligible unopened items. Crystals can be redeemed for booster packs, promo cards, and special bundles in the Pokémon TCG Live in-game shop.
- 1 to 9 unopened items in the Pokémon TCG Online = 500 Crystals awarded in Pokémon TCG Live
- 10 to 24 unopened items = 1,100 Crystals
- 25 to 49 unopened items = 2,250 Crystals
- 50 to 124 unopened items = 4,700 Crystals
- 125+ unopened items = 12,400 Crystals
Players who do not want to have their unopened products and bundles converted to Crystals should open those items in the Pokémon TCG Online ahead of sunset on June 5, 2023, before transferring their collection to Pokémon TCG Live.
Are there any unopened products or bundles that do not count toward the number of unopened items that I will receive Crystals for?
The following unopened items are excluded from this count:
- Booster packs and theme decks from the HeartGold & SoulSilver, HS—Unleashed, HS—Undaunted, HS—Triumphant, and Call of Legends expansions
- Reward Chests
- Avatar Collection Boxes
Are trade-locked items eligible to be migrated to Pokémon TCG Live?
Yes. The migration process uses the combined total of tradable and trade-locked copies of an item in the collection. This applies to cards, accessories, and unopened products and bundles in the player’s Pokémon TCG Online collection at the time they migrate their collection to Pokémon TCG Live.
What will happen to the cards I have that are in addition to the four copies I’m allowed to transfer?
Cards in excess of the following limits will not be transferred to Pokémon TCG Live. Players will not receive Credits for these untransferable cards.
- Four copies of a unique Pokémon TCG card
- One copy of an ACE SPEC, Prism Star, or Pokémon Star card
- One copy of each part of a Pokémon V-UNION card
- 59 copies of a basic Energy card (excluding non-foil basic Energy cards without a collector number or expansion icon)
Do parallel foil and alternate-art variants of cards count as separate cards? Will they transfer?
Yes, parallel foil and alternate-art variants of cards count as separate cards from their standard variant. If a card has multiple variants, each variant will have a transfer limit that is separate from every other variant of that card.
What about special expansions like Detective Pikachu and Celebrations?
Pokémon TCG cards from the Detective Pikachu expansion are transferrable and playable in Pokémon TCG Live. The Celebrations expansion is also transferrable and playable at launch, with the exception of cards from the Classic Collection within the Celebrations expansion, which are transferrable but will not be playable until future Pokémon TCG Live game updates.
What about cards from the McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion?
Pokémon TCG cards from the McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion are not transferrable to Pokémon TCG Live, as they are not available in the Pokémon TCG Online.
Can code cards with Pokémon TCG Online branding be redeemed in Pokémon TCG Live?
Pokémon TCG Online code cards included in Pokémon TCG products will be redeemable in Pokémon TCG Live, although code cards from some products may unlock different items in Pokémon TCG Live than they do in the Pokémon TCG Online.
How do I import my deck lists from the Pokémon TCG Online to Pokémon TCG Live?
If you’d like to import your deck lists from the Pokémon TCG Online, you can do so by following the below steps.
- Before migrating your Pokémon TCG Online account to Pokémon TCG Live, go into the Deck Manager in the Pokémon TCG Online.
- Select a deck, then select the “View Deck” icon.
- Select “Export Deck” to copy the deck list to your clipboard, then paste the deck list into a Word document or other text-based file.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each deck list you wish to transfer to Pokémon TCG Live.
- Log out of the Pokémon TCG Online, then log in to Pokémon TCG Live to migrate your account.
- Complete the in-game tutorial.
- Go into the Deck Editor in Pokémon TCG Live.
- Copy a deck list from your saved Word document or other text-based file.
- Select the “Create a Deck” icon, then select “Import Deck.”
- You will receive a notification once successfully uploaded.
- Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 until you’ve imported all of your deck lists.
If your deck list contains cards that are not playable in Pokémon TCG Live, the deck list will still import but won’t be valid for play. Please note that cards from the XY and Black & White Series are transferrable and will eventually be playable via future game updates.
Why did you decide to sunset the Pokémon TCG Online and develop Pokémon TCG Live?
We’re always working to innovate the Pokémon TCG and provide the best possible experience for fans who want more ways to play outside of the tabletop version of the game. As the Pokémon TCG Online launched over 10 years ago, Pokémon TCG Live not only provides an opportunity to update the game and underlying technology, but also to engage more fans by offering an easily accessible online game on smartphones, tablets, PCs, and macOS devices. Pokémon TCG Live also comes with a suite of improvements, including a new card-logic engine that provides more player feedback around gameplay events, as well as a Ranked Ladder, Battle Pass, duplicate card protection with Credits, 3D avatars, updated visual effects, and more fluid gameplay.
Why are you sunsetting the Pokémon TCG Online before the official launch of Pokémon TCG Live?
The Pokémon TCG Online will be sunsetted prior to the official launch of Pokémon TCG Live so that saved content in players’ Pokémon TCG Online accounts can be migrated to Pokémon TCG Live, helping to ensure a more seamless transition for players. This also provides a more optimal experience by merging all fans into one online game, offering a greater pool of people to digitally play the Pokémon TCG.
Why did you decide to discontinue working with Dire Wolf Digital on Pokémon TCG Live?
Dire Wolf Digital, the developer of the Pokémon TCG Online, has been an incredible and reliable partner in helping us deliver a digital Pokémon TCG experience to players, and they will continue to support the code cards found in Pokémon TCG products. We’re always working to innovate the Pokémon TCG, and with the Pokémon TCG Online app launching over 10 years ago, it made sense to update the game and bring that work in-house to help ensure a seamless and holistic Pokémon TCG ecosystem for fans.