[Update 12 Sep 2024] As seen on PokéBeach, another card from Pokémon GO [S10b] has been confirmed to have China-exclusive artwork; it’s a Zapdos card which drops on 20 September 2024. Head to the gallery to check it out.

[Update 30 Jul 2024] Three more cards originally from Pokémon GO [S10b] which will feature China-exclusive artwork have been posted on PokéBeach. These cards are Squirtle, Wartortle, and Moltres cards; they’ll be released on 2 August 2024. Check them out in the gallery.

[Update 12 Jul 2024] As seen on PokéBeach, two more cards originally from Pokémon GO [S10b] which will feature China-exclusive artwork have just been launched. These are a Blastoise and a Radiant Blastoise card. Find them in the gallery and stay with us for more details.

When augmented reality (AR) mobile game Pokémon Go was released by Niantic in 2016, to say that it was an “overnight sensation” would be a grievous understatement. It made such an impact and became a phenomenon on a level seldom ever seen in the social media era when the general pop culture space has become more fractured than ever before.

Years later, Creatures Inc. paid tribute to the mobile game’s success by releasing Pokémon GO [S10b], a Pokémon TCG subset based on the game.

However, as part of the so-called “Great Firewall”, the Pokémon Go mobile game was banned in China. As such, when the corresponding Pokémon TCG set was originally slated to come to China, there’d initially been a delay due to the legal entanglements associated with this issue.

Fortunately, the issue has finally been resolved—and in a way that’s sure to excite Pokémon TCG fans not only in China, but elsewhere as well. This is because the release of China-exclusive compilation set Brave Stars [CS5] (Pokémon TCG sets in China are not released in the same way as they are in the rest of the world) will feature 14 cards originally from Pokémon GO [S10b]—but this time with alternate artwork never before seen anywhere else in the world.

All cards from Pokémon GO [S10b] initially shared a copyright with Niantic. Thus, it’s likely that Creatures Inc. had to commission new artwork under their usual licensing arrangements in order to avoid obvious links to Niantic. On top of that, these cards with new artwork don’t bear the logo of the Pokémon Go mobile game just as the original versions do.

As these cards are being released under unique circumstances, it’s highly unlikely that they will ever be launched in either Japanese or English. Retail prices of these cards will be known once the first copies are placed in the open market.

In other TCG-related news, check out the Red Edward Newgate Starter Deck [ST-15]. Alternatively, you can also head over to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and find the top trending and latest single cards and boxes.