The Pokémon Trading Card Game community was left in uproar this week following the news of the cancellation of the popular side event, Worlds. The event had been scheduled to take place at the end of the year as part of the Pokémon World Championships, but it was abruptly cancelled with no warning and no explanation. The Pokémon Company International, which runs the event, cited the ongoing pandemic as the cause but gave few other details.
Many players who had been looking forward to competing were left feeling confused and betrayed, especially those who had been preparing for the event for months and were already in the process of making travel arrangements. They voiced their frustration and anger on social media and within the competitive community, and organizers were eventually forced to issue an apology and start a discussion about how best to move forward.
The controversy surrounding the cancellation has shone a light on the need for more transparency and better communication from the Pokémon Company International. Players feel as though their concerns are not being taken seriously, and that the company is not being held accountable for the cancellation. The Pokémon TCG community has been turned upside down in recent weeks, and there is a sense that a meaningful change needs to be made in order for players to get the respect they deserve.
The question now is how far the Pokémon Company International is willing to go to make up for its mistake. Will the tournament be rescheduled, or is this the end of Worlds as we know it? With the company’s silence so far on the matter, the Pokémon TCG community is up in the air as to what’s coming next.