Pokémon TCG reaches an impressive milestone of 85 billion cards

The Pokémon Company has announced that by March 2026, an impressive milestone of 85 billion Pokémon TCG cards had been produced. This marks an important moment in the history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), which began in 1996 when the first sets were released in Japan.

A look back at the history of Pokémon TCG

Pokémon TCG first launched in 1996, and since then the game has enjoyed enormous popularity. Its mix of card collecting and strategic play has attracted a dedicated fanbase that has continued to grow as new sets and expansions have been released.

Digital innovation with TCG Pocket

In October 2024, The Pokémon Company launched a digital mobile version of the game called TCG Pocket. This free-to-play smartphone app has helped draw attention back to the physical version of Pokémon TCG, resulting in a spectacular surge in the game’s popularity.

Production figures and sales statistics

Alongside the 85 billion trading cards produced, The Pokémon Company also shared other notable figures that underline the franchise’s impact. Since launch, the company has shipped more than 515 million Pokémon video games. For the fiscal year ending in March 2026, it was estimated that nearly 12% of all Pokémon TCG cards ever produced were printed that year. That works out to around 10 billion cards made between April 2025 and March 2026.

These figures highlight not only the staying power of Pokémon TCG, but also the franchise’s ongoing evolution and adaptation to modern technology, keeping it relevant in an ever-changing market.