Summary
To combat scalping, Pokémon is testing facial recognition at five temporary card stores in Japan during the launch of the new Storm Emerald Mega expansion. This system will limit each person to one entry and one queue ticket per day, preventing repeat visits. This is part of a larger effort to crack down on scalpers, which has also included suggestions for ID checks and potential government action.
Pokémon is now using facial recognition at five temporary stores in Japan to help prevent people from buying up all the Pokémon cards. Shoppers will need to have their faces scanned before they can enter the store or get a place in line. This new security measure coincides with the release of the latest card expansion, Mega Storm Emerald, and represents Pokémon’s strongest step yet to limit purchases by resellers who aim to profit from limited-edition cards.
This action is part of a growing trend. Reselling, or ‘scalping,’ is creating major problems for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Limited production numbers combined with high demand from collectors mean that new products often sell out immediately, before most people even have a chance to buy them. The Pokémon Company is tackling this issue with a variety of solutions, and this trial of facial recognition technology seems like their most recent and forceful attempt to address the problem.
Recently, there was a proposal to link Japan’s national ID system, My Number, to purchases at Pokémon Center Online, as well as to entries in lotteries and official events. While still being considered, this could launch around August 2026. This plan, along with Japan’s increased efforts to stop the reselling of trading cards at inflated prices and to fight counterfeits, shows that the Pokémon Company is exploring stricter ways to verify customers. They’re moving beyond simply limiting how much people can buy and considering methods that require official identification and even biometric data.
Pokémon hasn’t called its new store system an “anti-scalping” measure, but says it’s designed to create a secure shopping experience, prevent crime, and ensure fair purchase limits. However, the system effectively hinders professional buyers who quickly purchase large quantities of products, leaving less for collectors and casual fans. This disconnect between Pokémon’s stated goals and the actual results is a recurring issue with their product releases, and the company hasn’t addressed important questions, such as how long they will store customers’ biometric data before deleting it.
Currently, this policy is limited in scope. It only affects temporary pop-up events happening between July 31st and August 16th. Pokémon hasn’t indicated they plan to use facial recognition at their regular stores, either in Japan or elsewhere. The big question is whether this trial will become a standard practice, or just remain a one-time test related to the popular Storm Emerald release. How it goes during these events will likely show how willing Pokémon is to use biometric security measures in the future.
Japanese Pokémon Centers are implementing mandatory facial recognition technology to prevent resellers from buying up limited-edition merchandise. Starting at upcoming temporary store events, customers will need to have their faces scanned both to enter and receive queue tickets. This new measure aims to combat scalping and ensure products reach genuine fans.
— ItsMeCooper (@ItsaMeCooper) July 26, 2026
2026-07-27 12:26