Pokémon card resellers have turned collecting into an online blood sport

<figure> <img alt="A digital illustration of hands holding two 30th Celebration Pokémon cards." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge, Shutterstock" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/268781_Pokemon_PARKIN_v3.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">Earlier this month, <em>Pok&eacute;mon </em>card<em> </em>content creator Natalie Roush <a href="https://kotaku.com/roush-pokemon-tcg-30th-celebration-set-stolen-cards-ultimate-premium-2000735067">posted a video to her YouTube and Instagram pages</a> that enraged the larger collection community. In the now-deleted video, Roush shows off two premium boxes of cards that had not yet been officially released, and implores viewers not to be mad. But they were; other creators <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyk61SA2MBI">claimed that cards Roush had purchased were stolen</a> from the manufacturer and mocked her for <a href="https://www.dexerto.com/pokemon/youtuber-opens-unreleased-180-pokemon-box-then-promotes-2262-affiliate-listing-3407060/">trying to sell them at exorbitant prices</a>. The Roush situation was a high-profile example of the way <em>Pok&eacute;mon </em>card collecting culture has been upended by the influencer economy and people trying to profit off the hobby. Th …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/1001002/pokemon-30th-celebration-scalping-resellers">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>