The Pokémon Company International has announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy, the first-ever board game adaptation of the Pokémon TCG, one of the most beloved and best-selling trading card games in the world. High resolution images from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Pokémon Debuts New Board Game with Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy

Iconic Pokémon Trading Card Game from The Pokémon Company International Reimagined as First-Ever Easy-to-Learn and Fun-to-Play Family Game, Releasing Worldwide on July 31, 2020


Today, The Pokémon Company International has announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy, the first-ever board game adaptation of the Pokémon TCG, one of the most beloved and best-selling trading card games in the world. Providing everything a “Trainer” needs to master the basics of the Pokémon TCG, Battle Academy offers fun family entertainment, combining strategic Pokémon TCG gameplay within a classic, easy-to-learn family game experience.


Known for its beautifully illustrated cards that are fun to collect, trade, and play with, the Pokémon TCG features a vast assortment of product offerings with something for every Trainer—from casual collector to avid competitor. Now, with the introduction of Battle Academy, there are even more accessible options for aspiring players.

“Battle Academy is designed to be easy to learn and fun to play for all types of Trainers, including children and parents that may be new to the Pokémon TCG,” said J.C. Smith, senior director of consumer marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “Pokémon has a unique ability to bring people together, and we look forward to seeing families enjoy Battle Academy at their next game night, as parents bond with their kids over one of their favorite entertainment brands and collectible Pokémon TCG cards.”


Each Battle Academy box comes with a two-player game board, three 60-card decks, tutorial guides, and gameplay accessories. It also comes with a code card that allows Trainers to enjoy the Pokémon TCG digitally through the free-to-play Pokémon Trading Card Game Online app on iOS and Android, as well as on Pokemon.com.


Launching around the world on July 31, 2020, Battle Academy will be available widely at participating mass and hobby retailers, as well as online retailers including PokemonCenter.com, the premier destination for official, high-quality Pokémon merchandise in the US. In addition, Trainers in the US will be able to grab Battle Academy early on June 21, 2020, exclusively at Target stores and online at Target.com.

Source: https://tcg.pokemon.com/en-us/battle-academy/

The Pokémon Company International unveiled the newest expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Sword & Shield Darkness Ablaze on May 29th, 2020 and it was released around the world on August 14th, 2020. High resolution press release images have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Charizard and Eternatus Make Their Pokémon VMAX Debut in the New Pokémon Trading Card Game: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Expansion

​​​​​​​Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze introduces highly collectible cards including Charizard VMAX, as the fan favorite Charizard makes its Gigantamax form debut in the Pokémon TCG—just like in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games. In addition, Trainers will be able to pull more Pokémon from the Galar region as Pokémon VMAX, such as Centiskorch VMAX and Grimmsnarl VMAX in their Gigantamax forms, and the Legendary Pokémon Eternatus VMAX in its unique Eternamax form.


The full expansion includes the following:

• Seven Pokémon VMAX
• 14 powerful Pokémon V—plus nine full-art Pokémon V
• 17 Trainer cards and four full-art Supporter cards
• Three new Special Energy cards

Fans interested in playing with cards from the expansion before launch can do so by picking up the Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Build & Battle Box, available through their local participating Pokémon TCG retailer starting August 1. Each box contains four Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze booster packs; a 23-card Evolution pack featuring key cards from current and prior sets, including one of four alternate-art promo cards; and a deck-building tip sheet.

Darkness Ablaze Elite Trainer Box

Get ready for all new V and V-MAX Pokemon to join your roster! This all new set from The Pokemon Company introduces new cards such as Eternatus V and the highly anticipated Charizard V-MAX!

Each Elite Trainer Box comes with:

• 8 Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze booster packs
• 65 card sleeves
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• A player’s guide to the Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Expansion
• A Pokémon TCG rulebook

Source: https://press.pokemon.com/en/releases/MEDIA-ALERT-Charizard-and-Eternatus-Make-Their-Pokemon-VMAX-Debut-in-t

Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Build & Battle Box

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Build & Battle Box was available in the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold starting on August 28th, 2020.

If you’re burning to play a quick Pokémon TCG battle, then the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Build & Battle Box will get you started. Each box contains a selection of cards to let you easily build a playable deck in the fast-paced Prerelease format, where each player has a 40-card deck and sets aside four Prize cards at the start of play. The Build & Battle Box contains a 23-card Evolution pack, which includes a red-hot alternative-art promo card. This selection of cards is designed to give you a strong foundation for building a new deck. To fill out the rest of your deck, there are also four 10-card booster packs from the Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze expansion.

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Build & Battle Box includes:

• A 23-card Evolution pack featuring key cards from current and prior sets, including 1 of 4 alternate-art promo cards
• 4 Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze booster packs
• 1 deck-building tip sheet

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/sword-shield-darkness-ablaze-build-battle-box

Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield-Darkness Ablaze Galarian Darmanitan and Galarian Sirfetch'd Theme Deck

Galarian Darmanitan Puts Foes on Ice! Cold as the north wind—or blazing with fiery determination—Galarian Darmanitan shows off deep composure and immense strength in battle! Professor’s Research keeps your hand full of options, and Pelipper keeps an eye out from the sky. Suicune, Kangaskhan, and Beartic add strong offense to keep the Galarian Darmanitan theme deck extra frosty!

The Smashing Power of Galarian Sirfetch’d! Brave and strong, the chivalrous Galarian Sirfetch’d fights fair and fights hard! With Stonjourner throwing rocky kicks and Professor’s Research keeping your options open, you can follow the knight’s path to an honorable victory. Hippowdon and Passimian add extra muscle to keep the Galarian Sirfetch’d theme deck steadfast and ready to strike!

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Galarian Darmanitan and Galarian Sirfetch'd Theme Decks include:

• 60-card deck
• 1 metallic coin
• Single-player playmat
• 1 deck box
• Damage counters
• 1 rules booklet
• 3 reference cards
• 1 code card to play this deck online

The offical Pokémon website has announced the details for the Pokémon Players Cup which will be taking place from June through August 2020 for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield and Pokkén Tournament DX. The streaming schedule was announced on June 4th, 2020.

Pokémon Players Cup

The Pokémon Players Cup is an online tournament taking place from June through August in which players from around the world will compete to prove they're the best and win Travel Awards to a future Pokémon International Championship. In the Pokémon Players Cup, there will be separate competitions for the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, and Pokkén Tournament DX. The Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield competition will use the standard Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC) rules. The Pokémon Players Cup is limited to Masters Division players only. Additional eligibility rules may apply.

The Pokémon Players Cup will take place over several phases. Be sure to check out the Pokémon TCG Pokémon Players Cup, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Pokémon Players Cup, and Pokkén Tournament DX Pokémon Players Cup pages for schedule information and more.

The players who come out on top in the qualification stages will be eligible to compete in the final stage of the Pokémon Players Cup in August. Matches will also be broadcast on the official Pokémon Twitch and YouTube channels. Learn more on the Pokémon Players Cup Stream Information page.

Qualifying for the Pokémon Players Cup Finals

From the Pokémon Players Cup's three competitions, the following numbers of players will be selected to compete in the finals.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup North America Online Qualifier
• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Europe Online Qualifier
• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Latin America Online Qualifier
• 3 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Oceania Online Qualifier
• 1 player from the Pokémon Players Cup Kickoff Invitational

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield

• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup North America Online Qualifier
• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Europe Online Qualifier
• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Latin America Online Qualifier
• 3 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Oceania Online Qualifier
• 1 player from the Pokémon Players Cup Kickoff Invitational

Pokkén Tournament DX

• 4 players from the Pokémon Players Cup North America Online Qualifier
• 2 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Europe Online Qualifier
• 1 players from the Pokémon Players Cup Oceania Online Qualifier
• 1 player from the Pokémon Players Cup Kickoff Invitational

Prizes

• Pokémon Trading Card Game Online: Top 4 players will receive a Travel Award to a future International Championship of their choosing
• Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield: Top 4 players will receive a Travel Award to a future International Championship of their choosing
• Pokkén Tournament DX: Champion will receive a Travel Award to a future International Championship of their choosing
• Eligible Pokémon TCG players who participate in the Regional Online Qualifiers receive a special in-game deck box and sleeves

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-players-cup/about/

At participating stores that sell Pokémon Card Game merchandise in Japan, the Infinity Zone Challenge Campaign (ムゲンダイナチャレンジキャンペーン) will be held. A special mini card box and promotional card pack with 5 cards will be available only during this campaign. Those that purchase 2 Infinity Zone boxes (60 packs) can get the Pokémon Center Lady (ポケモンセンターのお姉さん) 069/S-P promo card. The campaign starts on Friday, June 5th, 2020 until supplies last.


Source: https://www.pokemon-card.com/info/2020/20200512_002401.html#cp2

On April 24th, 2020, it was announced that Pokémon Detective Pikachu would make its terrestrial television debut on May 22nd, 2020 as an uncut broadcast from 9PM to 10:59 PM JST. The official Japanese Detective Pikachu Twitter account posted the announcement and linked to NTV's website which had an article about the movie.


To celebrate the broadcast, a campaign will be held at the Pokémon Center Online and Pokémon Centers and Pokémon Stores to get the promo card, Detective Pikachu" (099/S-P) from Friday, May 22nd, 2020, 10 a.m. until supplies last.

Pokémon Center Online

① Purchase 5 or more expansion packs, including 1 pack or more of the Movie Special Pack "Detective Pikachu", to get 1 promo card "Detective Pikachu". (limited to one promo card per order)
② Purchase at least 1 box (20 packs) of the Movie Special Pack "Detective Pikachu" and get 4 "Detective Pikachu" promo cards. (Up to 4 promo cards per order)

Pokémon Centers and Stores Nationwide

Purchase 5 or more expansion packs including 1 pack or more of the Movie Special Pack "Detective Pikachu" to get 1 promo card "Detective Pikachu". (Up to 4 promo cards per order)

At the time of this news article, the Pokémon Centers and Stores in Japan are closed due to COVID-19 but the Pokémon Center Online is still open for online orders. The official card game site noted that this campaign maybe canceled for in-store purchases.

Sources: https://kinro.ntv.co.jp/article/detail/20200424

The official Pokémon website has announced that the Play! Pokémon Players Cup Online Tournament will take place in two stages, in July and August.

Play! Pokémon Players Cup Online Tournament: Pokémon TCG, Pokkén Tournament DX, and Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield

Prepare for an incredible online Pokémon competition!

Masters Division competitors in the Pokémon TCG, Pokkén Tournament DX, and Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield (using the 2020 Video Game Championships [VGC] format) will have the chance to prove they're the very best in a prestigious new online tournament: the Pokémon Players Cup. Not only will this event give you the chance to show you're among the strongest competitors in the world, but you can also look forward to watching lots of high-level matches between top Trainers.

The Pokémon Players Cup will have two stages. In July, eligible players will compete in a double-elimination bracket, broken down by rating zones, to determine the top players in each rating zone. Then those top finishers will face off in the final stage of the Pokémon Players Cup in August, when the winner will be crowned as the champion of the Pokémon Players Cup and earn a Travel Award to a future International Championships event.

Pokémon TCG and VGC competitors will need to qualify through their performance in upcoming events. Pokémon TCG competitors will qualify for the Pokémon Players Cup through their ranking on the June Leaderboard (Standard format, Tournament Rep) in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield competitors will qualify through the International Challenge May Online Competition, which runs from May 21 to 24, 2020, and will use the 2020 Video Game Championships format. (In order to be eligible, competitors will need to link their Nintendo Account with their Pokémon Trainer Club account before signing up.) Make sure to bring your A game to these upcoming qualifiers so you can compete in the Pokémon Players Cup!

Pokkén Tournament DX competitors will be able to register directly for the first stage of the Pokémon Players Cup at a future date.

Each of the Pokémon TCG, Pokkén Tournament DX, and Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield competitions will kick off with a special invitational event. The winners will qualify for the final stage of the Pokémon Players Cup, so make sure to follow along.

Masters Division competitors in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Video Game Championships will need to finish among the top eligible Trainers in their rating zone for the May International Challenge to qualify for the Pokémon Players Cup.

• North America: Top 256
• Europe: Top 256
• Oceania: Top 128
• Latin America: Top 256

Good luck qualifying for the Pokémon Players Cup, Trainers. Practice hard so you can prove you have what it takes to win it all!

Only Masters Division players who have opted in to participating in all available Play! Pokémon programs are eligible to participate in the Play! Pokémon Players Cup Online Tournament.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/play-pokemon-players-cup-online-tournament-pokemon-tcg-pokken-tournament-dx-and-pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield/

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Figure Collection was available as of May 1st, 2020 in the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.

More Pokémon originally discovered in the Galar region have arrived in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and this set commemorates their arrival with a beautifully sculpted figure that showcases the region’s three first partner Pokémon. The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Figure Collection includes a wonderful figure that features Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble along with an incredible full-art foil card featuring longtime favorite Pikachu. There are even four Pokémon TCG booster packs so you can add even more cards to your collection. Whether you’re a veteran explorer of the Galar region or just getting started, celebrate the Pokémon who’ve been at your side from the very beginning with the Sword & Shield Figure Collection!

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Figure Collection includes:

• 1 full-art foil card featuring Pikachu
• 1 figure of Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble together
• 4 Pokémon TCG booster packs
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/sword-shield-figure-collection

The Pokémon Company announced on the official Pokémon website the 2021 Season Pokémon TCG Format Rotation.

2021 Season Pokémon TCG Format Rotation

Find out which cards will be permitted in the 2021 Pokémon TCG Championship Series season.

At the beginning of every Championship Series season, Pokémon Organized Play removes older expansions from competition in the Standard format, with the goal of maintaining a healthy competitive environment. This rotation challenges existing players to create new strategies and enables new players to get involved in Play! Pokémon events using the most recent releases. Events taking place after August 28, 2020 will use the 2021 season Standard Format.

The Standard format for the 2021 season will consist of the following expansions:

• Sun & Moon—Team Up and any expansions released afterward
• Black Star Promo cards numbered SM158 and up and SWSH001 and up
• Cards from the following products are also legal:
  • Hidden Fates (excluding all cards from the Shiny Vault subset other than Lycanroc-GX SV67/SV94)
  • Pokémon TCG: Detective Pikachu
  • Cards from McDonald's Collections will be legal in the Standard format only if they're functionally identical to a card that is currently legal in the Standard format. New expansions become legal for tournament play on two weeks after they are released.

All cards from the Sword & Shield Series have a letter in the bottom-left corner called a regulation mark. In the future, this mark will determine which cards are allowed in tournament play. For the 2021 season, all cards with the “D” regulation mark are legal to use in tournaments. New cards with this regulation mark still must follow the appropriate waiting period to become tournament legal (typically two weeks).

The Expanded Format for 2021

The Expanded format will remain unchanged for the 2021 season. Players should double-check what format is being used before choosing a deck to bring to their local events.

The Expanded format for the 2021 season will consist of the following expansions:

• Black & White and any expansions released afterward
• Black Star Promo cards numbered BW01 and up, XY01 and up, SM01 and up, and SWSH001 and up
• Cards from the following products are also legal:
  • Generations
  • Double Crisis
  • Dragon Vault
  • Shining Legends
  • Dragon Majesty
  • Hidden Fates
  • Pokémon TCG: Detective Pikachu
  • Black & White Trainer Kit and any Trainer Kits released afterward
  • McDonald's Collection 2011 and later

New expansions become legal for tournament play two weeks after they are released.

Please note that several cards are currently banned from the Expanded format. You can find the list of banned cards here.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/2021-season-pokemon-tcg-format-rotation/

In light of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), The Pokémon Company has decided to cancel the Pokémon Japan Championships 2020 (PJCS2020), which was scheduled to be held at Pacifico Yokohama on Saturday, June 27th, 2020 and Sunday, June 28th, 2020. Our list of COVID-19 canceled Pokémon Events has been updated with this announcement.

The Pokémon Company thanks you for your continued patronage of Pokémon games and card games. At the same time, they would like to apologize to everyone who was looking forward to the event. The health and safety of the contestants, staff, and the local community was their top priority, and they appreciate your understanding.

Due to the cancellation of PJCS2020, the granting of entry rights to the top winners of the 2020 International Challenge, to be held or scheduled to be held in April/May, to the PJCS2020 Game Division has been cancelled. Please also note that the carry-over of the entry rights for the PJCS 2020 games that were granted to the top winners of the 2020 International Challenge February, including those for PJCS 2021, has not yet been determined, so they will consider this matter again, depending on the circumstances.

The "2020 International Challenge May", an Internet competition for Pocket Monsters Sword and Shield is scheduled to be held in May 2020.

Source: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2020/04/200422_at01.html

The official Pokémon website has announced that players of the Pokémon TCG Online can get a weekly Log-in Bonus and earn double Trainer Tokens from Daily Versus Reward throughout April 2020.

Spring into the Pokémon TCG Online

Claim a special weekly log-in bonus and earn double Trainer Tokens from Daily Versus Rewards throughout April.

Now's a great time to battle in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online! Throughout April 2020, players can earn a special weekly log-in bonus that includes digital booster packs and Trainer Tokens. Plus, you'll earn double the usual Trainer Tokens from Daily Versus Rewards.

The Pokémon TCG Online is the free-to-play, online version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game that features all the latest cards, including the entire Sword & Shield expansion. Experience the fun of battling with amazing Pokémon V and incredible Pokémon originally discovered in the Galar region!

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/spring-into-the-pokemon-tcg-online/