Pokémons 30th anniversary card drop is absolute chaos: Watch the video
Pokémon TCG's 30th Celebration is causing chaos as fans line up overnight and rush stores to get their hands on the anniversary cards.
Thirty years ago, playing Pokémon meant using a Game Boy. Now, in 2026, catching them appears to involve arriving at Target before dawn and hoping someone else doesn't clear the shelves. The Pokémon Trading Card Game's eagerly awaited 30th Anniversary expansion launched worldwide on September 16, sparking chaotic scenes at retailers.
Videos of the launch show long lines of prospective buyers waiting outside stores, with one collector documented sprinting toward a display and stuffing merchandise into their bags. A tweet described it as "like wild chickens during feeding times," though the tweet is currently unavailable.
The frenzy extends beyond the U.S.; fans in the UK camped outside Best Buy, while Australian stores saw massive lines snaking through shopping centers. The reason for this madness? The celebration set includes foil cards, classic returnees, new Mew and Mewtwo cards, and 30 unique Pikachu illustrations to collect.
Resale values have skyrocketed—Mew cards are worth around $3,800 on the market. This has led to scalping concerns, with a $49.99 Elite Trainer Box selling for over $300 on eBay within hours of release. Retailers are treating this Pokémon card release like a crowd-control situation. Despite the absurdity of adults camping overnight and rushing stores for a game they played as kids, it seems the spirit of catching them all endures, just with a bit more elbow room.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
