How to play Pokemon TCG Pocket early on Android & iOS

Pokemon TCG Pocket is expected to go live worldwide on October 30, 2024, but you can play the game on your phone nearly a month early.

As of writing, the game is available as a soft launch, but only in New Zealand. There’s no news about whether Nintendo is going to expand the regions of the soft launch. Thankfully, there’s a way for you to enjoy the game even if you’re not located in the beautiful nation.

Disclaimer: Try this method only at your own risk.

How to download Pokemon TCG Pocket soft launch on iOS?

Unless you’re in New Zealand, you cannot legally download the game from your App Store before October 30 (unless Nintendo changes its initial plans).

• Log out of your Apple ID from your iPhone
• Create a new account. Use a fake address from a location in New Zealand.
• Once the account is created, open the App Store. It should show you the App Store available in New Zealand.
• Search Pokemon TCG Pocket, and it will be available for download.
• Once downloaded, you can now switch back to your original Apple ID.

Before turning on the game, you’ll need to use a VPN on your device. Whenever you log in to the game, you’ll need to have a VPN activated with New Zealand set as the location. Once you’ve logged into the game, you can turn off the VPN.

How to download Pokemon TCG Pocket soft launch on Android?

Before proceeding, you should know about the risk of using APK files from outside the Play Store. They can often contain malicious code that severely harms your devices. Once again, only proceed at your own risk.

• Typically, the file is available as APKS. Hence, you’ll need to use an APKS installer after downloading the file.
• You’ll also need a VPN, which you can get from the Play Store. Make sure to get one with New Zealand as an available server.
• Turn on the game once you’ve put New Zealand as your VPN location.
• Then, create your in-game account, and a one-time download will occur.
• If you get an error trying to download the file, just click on retry.

Once the download is done and you’re logged into the game, you can turn off your VPN. Whether you’re on iOS or Android, do note that there’s a part in the terms and conditions about Nintendo having the right to take away your progress when using VPN to play the game. If you choose to play early, make sure not to spend any money, lest your progress is reset in the future.