Pokémon Company Steps Up Amid Controversy Over Card Design

In a bold move, The Pokémon Company is urging fans to halt the harassment directed at the illustrator behind the recently removed TCG Pocket card designs. This follows exciting but controversial updates tied to the latest expansion, Wisdom of Sea & Sky.

When the expansion was set to launch, Chinese artist @lanjiujiu raised eyebrows on X by claiming that their art of Ho-Oh was used without consent for one of the new cards. This development sparked immediate backlash, leading The Pokémon Company to act swiftly.

What Happened Next?

With the fervor growing, The Pokémon Company released a statement where it deeply apologized for the oversight and announced the removal of the Ho-Oh EX and Lugia EX cards, substituting them with a simple placeholder image announcing, “New Art Coming Soon.”

Initially, the company explained that the illustrator was given “incorrect reference materials.” However, the subsequent harassment directed at the illustrator prompted the company to clarify its stance, placing the responsibility squarely on its production team.

In a follow-up statement via the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Twitter account, the company detailed that the illustrator simply followed designs sourced from its own team. The card production had provided concept sketches that inaccurately represented the intended artwork, leading to this confusion.

The statement continued, “While many illustrations are created with a strong focus on the illustrator’s creativity, there are instances where the production team requests a direct recreation of concept sketches.” Clearly, the fault lay in the oversight from internal teams, and The Pokémon Company urged fans to cease any further criticism of the illustrator.

The Aftermath

After the initial turmoil, @lanjiujiu expressed gratitude for the rapid resolution, hoping the situation would settle once and for all. The Pokémon Company has reiterated its commitment to enhancing quality control processes, ensuring that all artists can work with confidence and that fans can enjoy Pokémon in peace.

This incident underscores the importance of clear communication and accountability within gaming development. As the industry evolves, it’s crucial for companies to protect their creative teams from undue backlash while also addressing fan concerns. The Pokémon Company is taking steps to ensure it gets it right moving forward, a silver lining in an otherwise troubling scenario.