Previously only available in Canada, the Pokemon Trading Card Game Online app will be available today on the iPad App Store in the US. This is a huge step for the franchise as Nintendo properties are very rarely offered off of Nintendo hardware (Note: For clarity, Pokemon TCG is not Nintendo published, but Pokemon is a Nintendo-owned property through The Pokemon Company). The game will be a free download and will allow players to collect, trade, and battle other players using cards based on the actual game.
Collect, battle, and trade on the go! The Pokémon TCG Online app gives you all the fun of the desktop game
The official announcement reads “Download the Pokémon TCG Online app for your iPad starting September 30! The Pokémon TCG Online app will give you all the fun of the desktop game, including online play, deck building, and card trading. And thanks to your Pokémon Trainer Club account, your card collection and game progress will be the same wherever you play the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online.”
Being able to sync with the currently available desktop app should please long-time fans, while possibly bringing in new players. Gamers can unlock new cards in-game through special codes found inside physical packs of Pokemon cards, or simply by playing the game. New cards will be released regularly, according to the video above. This was recently seen with the addition of the Furious Fists expansion to the Pokemon X & Y card set.
