Pokémon’s Latest Scandal: AI Art and Rule-Breaking in the Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) has been a beloved part of the franchise for years, attracting both collectors and players. Recently, an illustration contest was held with prizes of up to $5,000, and the top three designs would be turned into real Pokémon TCG cards. However, the contest has been marred by controversy, with several finalists accused of breaking the rules.

The Pokémon TCG has been a staple of the franchise for years.

The contest received thousands of submissions, but only 300 images made it to the finals. However, fans quickly noticed that some of the finalists had violated the rules, which state that each entrant can only submit three unique submissions per person. Furthermore, each entrant must warrant that their submission is original and created by them alone.

“I’ve been collecting Pokémon cards since I was a kid, and it’s disheartening to see people cheating their way to the top.” - A disappointed fan

Fans have been speculating that some images were created using AI, citing issues with perspective, unnatural line work, and blending of distinct objects. The Pokémon Company has since admitted that a violation of the rules has occurred and that the offending pictures will be disqualified.

A screenshot of the Pokémon illustration contest website.

In a statement, the company said, “We are aware that select entrants from the top 300 finalists of the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 have violated the official contest rules. As a result, entrants in violation of the rules have been disqualified from the contest. Furthermore, additional artists participating in the contest will soon be selected to be among the top 300 finalists.”

While fans are disappointed that violating images were able to make it to the finals, they are glad that these designs will be replaced with entries from other artists. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the use of AI in art and the importance of upholding the integrity of contests.

Pokémon fans are passionate about the franchise and expect fair play.

The Pokémon Company has not named the images that violated the rules, and the original 300 images are still on the website. However, fans are hopeful that the company will take steps to ensure that future contests are fair and transparent.

If you want to read more about Pokémon, check out the upcoming Pokémon Scarlet and Violet raid.