Pokémon TCG Pocket Allegedly Plagiarized Artwork Replaced
|
|
Key points
- Pokémon TCG Pocket removed the immersive artwork for Ho-Oh EX and Lugia EX after confirmed plagiarism accusations.
- More than a week after the accusations and the prompt removal of the artwork, the mobile game replaced the immersive arts.
- Before the additions of the new artwork, blank placeholders were used in-game.
More than a week after removing artwork due to alleged plagiarism, Pokémon TCG Pocket finally added new immersive artworks for both Ho-Oh EX and Lugia EX. Prior to the additions on Aug. 8, 2025, blank placeholder cards were used in-game, with the prior artwork having been promptly removed less than 24 hours after they were released on the mobile title.
To publicize the correction, Pokémon TCG Pocket posted on social media that the team had an update to share with the community, with a bowing emoji asking players to take a look.
This marks the first time in Pokémon TCG Pocket’s lifecycle where the team had to recreate immersive artwork, which is one of the highest rarity cards within the game. This rarity provides alternate drawings of iconic EX Pokémon; Ho-Oh EX and Lugia EX were both the flagship cards for their respective booster packs.
Pokémon TCG Pocket is a mobile game released on Oct. 30, 2024, and is currently one of the top grossing mobile games of the year. The game is developed by Pokémon Company and DeNA.
