Key Facts

• The official Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket account apologized on July 30, 2025.
• The issue affects Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3) cards from the Wisdom of Sea and Sky pack.
• Incorrect reference materials were provided to the illustrator during production.
• The affected cards will be released with placeholder illustrations.
• Corrected illustrations will be implemented once preparation is complete.

On July 30, 2025, the official account of Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket issued a statement apologizing for issues identified in the production process of certain card illustrations. The affected cards, Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3) from the upcoming Wisdom of Sea and Sky pack, will initially feature placeholder images due to incorrect materials provided during production.

Official Apology and Details of the Issue

The official X account of Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket released a document titled “Apology and Notice Regarding Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3).” The statement confirmed that a problem was found in the immersive illustration of Ho-Oh appearing in these cards. The issue was discovered during the preparation for the release of the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion pack, which was scheduled for addition on the same day as the apology.

Cause Identified Through Internal Investigation

According to the investigation, the card production team had mistakenly provided incorrect reference materials to the illustrator responsible for the cards. This error led to the production of illustrations that were not in line with official requirements. As a countermeasure, the company announced that the two affected cards will be temporarily distributed with blank placeholder illustrations until the correct versions are completed.

Future Actions and Commitment to Quality

The official statement further explained that the illustrations will be replaced with the correct versions once preparation is complete. An ongoing investigation is being conducted to ensure that no similar issues exist with other cards. The message concluded with an apology to fans and illustrators for the inconvenience, promising enhanced quality control measures and efforts to prevent recurrence.

FAQ

Q1: Which cards are affected by the illustration issue?
A1: Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3) from the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion pack are affected.

Q2: What caused the problem with the illustrations?
A2: Incorrect reference materials were provided by the card production team to the illustrator.

Q3: How will the affected cards be released?
A3: They will be released with placeholder (blank) illustrations until the correct ones are prepared.

Q4: Will the illustrations be corrected later?
A4: Yes, the official account stated that the correct illustrations will be implemented as soon as they are ready.

Q5: What measures are being taken to prevent this issue?
A5: The team is conducting further investigations and strengthening quality control to avoid recurrence.

Source : ORICON NEWS