Game Key-Card Scandal No Hindrance: Pokémon Pokopia Already Hard to Find in Major Markets

It appears that Nintendo may have significantly underestimated the market appetite for its latest spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia.

The company has faced a wave of criticism regarding the game’s physical release, which utilizes a “Game Key-Card” system—essentially a boxed code that requires users to download the actual game files from the internet. However, this controversial move hasn’t slowed down enthusiasts; the title is seeing rapid sell-outs across Japan, the UK, and the United States.

According to IGN, the physical edition of Pokémon Pokopia has become increasingly difficult to locate in American retail stores. Due to the surging demand, Amazon briefly inflated the price to $80, yet even at that premium, the game sold out and remains unavailable. Major retailers such as Walmart, GameStop, and Target are reporting similar inventory shortages.

A similar trend is unfolding in the UK market. Industry analysts suggest that retail chains were allocated far too few copies of the title. Chris Dring, head of The Game Business, noted that while consumer interest is high, physical sales figures haven’t even reached half of what Pokémon Legends Z‑A achieved at launch, simply because there isn’t enough stock to meet the demand.

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