Hardware

Pokémon vending machines may be on way out

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May 4, 2026

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Pokémon trading card kiosks, introduced as an alternative to crowded retail releases, are being gradually removed from select locations, according to a report in the gaming publication Polygon. The Pokémon Company said the move is intended to improve inventory consistency, reduce regional shortages and create a more reliable purchasing experience. While the company has not announced a full shutdown of the machines, the phased removal has led many fans to believe the kiosk experiment is being scaled back significantly.

The kiosks were designed to curb reseller activity by limiting purchases, discouraging loitering and releasing stock in controlled intervals. In practice, however, those safeguards proved ineffective. High resale values, with some cards exceeding $1,000, fueled aggressive behavior, including overnight camping, attempts to bypass purchase limits and even confrontations at machines. Reports of theft, particularly involving children, and frequent disputes highlighted how quickly demand overwhelmed the system.

Negative consumer experiences and safety concerns appear to have accelerated the pullback, with some retail locations opting to remove kiosks altogether. Although the company has not directly cited reseller activity as the reason, widespread online criticism and in-store incidents have damaged the concept's viability. For everyday collectors, the rollback may reduce access to cards, leaving them increasingly dependent on traditional retail channels that remain vulnerable to the same resale-driven pressures.