Pokémon TCG Live replaced its predecessor Pokémon TCG Online in 2023, upgrading the original’s PC and digital formula with better user interfaces, better graphics, new systems for progression and unlocks, and various welcome gameplay tweaks. This guide records the final Pokémon TCG Live release date, and other information from the run-up to its 2023 launch.
If you’re brand new to the Pokémon TCG, this game is an excellent (and free) way to start playing – but we’d also recommend reading some of our beginner’s guides, including how to play Pokémon cards, and the most powerful Pokémon cards.
You might also get a kick out of some of the other games that rank alongside Pokémon in our list of the world’s best trading card games.
For now, though, here’s what you need to know about Pokémon TCG Live:
What is Pokémon TCG Live?
Pokémon TCG Live is a free-to-play digital version of the paper trading card game. It’s available on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices, and features cross-platform play. Given the game is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, your battles can also go global.
Whether you prefer to play casual or ranked matches, you can earn experience points, level-ups, and rewards. The game’s three currencies (coins, crystals, and credits) can be used to buy cosmetics, card packs, and individual cards.
Pokémon TCG Live differs from its predecessor Pokémon TCG Online in plenty of ways. For example, the visual look and user interface of the game are more streamlined, and the starting decks on offer seem more up-to-date with the current meta.
There’s a free Battle Pass system that sets you challenges, and PTCGO’s trading system has replaced entirely with an emphasis is on collecting crystals to nab a particularly powerful card for your deck – much the same as MTG Arena‘s wildcards mechanic.
Pokémon TCG Live release date
Pokémon TCG Live was released for PC, Android, and IOS on June 8, 2023.
At the same time as this official launch, Pokémon TCG Online was finally taken offline, marking a full switch-over from the old platform to the new.
Pokémon TCG Live beta
Pokémon TCG Live was initially launched in live beta form, territory by territory, between February and October 2022.
The Pokémon TCG Live beta was originally available in 12 countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands. A final five countries were quietly given beta access on October 18, 2022.
The Pokémon TCG Live was declared fully released in all territories on November 15, 2022 – beginning a seven-month transitional period in which both games remained playable and players could migrate their accounts – before Pokémon TCG Online servers finally shut down for good in June 2023.
Source: Wargamer
