A Major 2027 Pokémon TCG Change Could Be Bad News For Everyone

Being a Pokémon Trading Card Game fan is tough on wallets. Major retailers like Target and Walmart charge more than the manufacturer's retail price; stores like Best Buy, which stick to MSRP, are extremely competitive. Increased vendor prices and extraordinary resale price gouging are pushing more card shops to sell TCG products for or above market rates. And now, Pokémon fans are starting to fear that the hobby's pricing is about to get even worse across the board.

TCG news site Poke Beach reports that Pokémon cards will become more expensive in Japan starting in May 2027. Citing increased costs for raw materials and other factors, The Pokémon Company says it is raising the price of booster packs by about 15%. These products are going from ¥200 to ¥230, and associated items — like booster boxes — are also expected to go up in price.

The Pokémon Company has not officially announced price increases in other markets, but many fans worry that it is only a matter of time. Price increases in Japan don't always coincide with those in other regions, though they sometimes do. The last time that TPC hiked prices in the U.S. was in 2023, to go alongside a new TCG series. The TCG is nearing the end of the Mega Evolution series with the recent release of Delta Reign. A new TCG era is expected to kick off after February 2027 with Pokémon ex★; that could be a perfect opportunity for TPC to announce a price change.

MSRP is determined by several factors, and Japan's production line is separate from that of other markets. TPC's new printing facility in North Carolina is expected to finish construction in 2027 as well. A new facility could increase TPC's printing capacity, but it's worth remembering the facility's lease was the largest commercial lease completed in the country in 2025. Those costs, alongside The Pokémon Company's recent acquisition of distributors like Excell, could potentially justify an increase in product prices. Consumers have already proven they're willing to pay more for Pokémon packs as well, so a 15% or so increase after such multi-million dollar expenses doesn't seem outlandish. If such price jumps do come to pass, retailers could also reevaluate their own TCG price tags.

For now, the U.S. MSRP of $4.49 for individual Pokémon packs remains the same — but good luck finding the product anywhere at that price!