Can you get banned from Pokemon TCG Pocket for using VPN

Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s official launch might be a month away, but players are already playing the game on their phones using the soft launch version.

Earlier this week, The Pokemon Company soft-launched the game for iOS and Android users in New Zealand. There’s no information about whether the developers could expand the soft launch to new regions. However, the community has already devised ways to play using VPN on both operating systems early. Unfortunately, you could lose all your progression after the game’s official launch.

Using a VPN to play Pokemon TCG Pocket has big risks

You’ll need an active VPN to sign in to Pokemon TCG Pocket if you’re located outside New Zealand. You can turn it off, but without a VPN, the game will give you an error message saying it’s unavailable at your location. However, using a VPN can put your risk into the account.

As posted by Reddit user u/Feeling_Resort_666, using a VPN to play the game breaks clause 18 of the official terms and conditions. This clause is put in place to ensure that you won’t attempt to bypass the restrictions based on age, geography, and other restrictions.

It’s worth noting that this clause doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be banned from playing Pokemon TCG Pocket after the global launch. Yes, it’s best not to play with a VPN. If you still want to go ahead at your own risk, using a secondary account is best. That way, you get to open packs and play the game without your main account having the risk of a ban.

Additionally, using an APK from third-party source has some major risks as well. They can have security risk and can harm your device. Hence, only play the soft launch if you’re desperate to immediately check out everything available on Pokemon TCG Pocket.