Pre-registration open: Pokémon TCG Pocket coming to iOS and Android

Weeks before the global launch of Pokémon TCG Pocket, trainers had two ways to get ahead: pre-register on the App Store or Google Play to be ready on day one, or, if they were in New Zealand, jump in early during the game’s soft launch.

Pre-registration: be ready at launch

Pre-registration for Pokémon TCG Pocket opened on both the Apple App Store and Google Play shortly after the World Championships 2024 announcement. Tapping “Pre-Register” (or “Get” with a pre-order-style notice on iOS) added the app to your account so it could install automatically—or at least appear the moment it went live—on October 30, 2024.

No bonus cards or in-game rewards were tied to pre-registration; the benefit was convenience. When the clock hit launch day in your region, you didn’t have to search the store or wait for a download. The game was already there, ready to open.

New Zealand soft launch

Before the rest of the world got access, New Zealand was chosen for a soft launch. That’s a common strategy for mobile games: release in a smaller, English-speaking market to stress-test servers, catch bugs, and tune the experience before a global rollout.

For Kiwi trainers, it meant playing Pokémon TCG Pocket days or weeks ahead of everyone else—opening the first Genetic Apex packs, trying Immersive Cards, and running quick battles while the rest of the world waited. Feedback and stability data from that period helped the team prepare for the October 30 global release.

What you needed

• iOS: iPhone 6s or newer, iOS 13.0 or later, and roughly 1 GB of free storage.
• Android: Android 8.0 or higher, 2 GB RAM recommended, and about 1 GB of free space.

The app is free to download, with optional in-app purchases for players who want extra packs or items beyond the two free daily boosters.

The calm before the storm

Pre-registration and the New Zealand soft launch turned the wait for Pokémon TCG Pocket into something more than a countdown. One group of players was already in; everyone else had a one-tap path to join the moment the game went live. When October 30 arrived, that preparation paid off—and the pocket-sized TCG took off worldwide.