The Shiny Koraidon and Miraidon Event Becomes a Scalper’s Paradise

The launch of the latest in-store distribution event for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has been marred by widespread reports of massive scalping, leaving legitimate fans empty-handed. The highly anticipated promotion, which offers players a chance to obtain the previously Shiny-locked Legendary Pokémon, Shiny Koraidon and Shiny Miraidon, through free codes at select retailers, has quickly devolved into a commercial disaster. In the United States, where the event is hosted by GameStop, reports confirm that stores have run out of codes almost immediately, with many of the coveted redemption cards now flooding online auction sites at exorbitant prices.

The event, which runs from September 26th to October 15th, 2025, was supposed to be a celebration, marking the first time these Generation 9 mascots could be officially obtained in their unique color variants. Instead, the limited supply of physical code cards, combined with high collector demand, has created an artificial scarcity that scalpers have swiftly capitalized on. This retail distribution model, intended to drive foot traffic to stores, is now under severe scrutiny from the community for enabling this predatory behavior, with many calling for a switch to a more equitable Mystery Gift online distribution method.

The Financialization of a Free Promotional Item

The core issue revolves around the “free with no purchase required” nature of the distribution. This policy, while consumer-friendly on the surface, provides an easy vector for profiteering. Reports across social media and news outlets indicate that within hours of the event’s launch, numerous listings for the codes appeared on platforms like eBay. These free promotional codes are being sold for prices ranging from a low of $10 to over $40 for a single code, and in some extreme cases, dual-packs of both Shiny Koraidon and Shiny Miraidon codes have exceeded bids of $130. This practice turns a complimentary gift meant for the community into a highly profitable, black-market transaction.

The frenzy was reportedly exacerbated by a coincidental major release in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), the Mega Evolution expansion set, launching on the same day. Many individuals who lined up for the TCG products also grabbed handfuls of the free game codes, further depleting stock and providing a dual stream of collectible goods for immediate resale. The scarcity has led to extreme frustration among Pokémon trainers who are unable to visit a store during business hours or whose local GameStop locations were only allocated a minimal number of codes—some as low as 50 per store—for the entire duration of the event.

• Exorbitant Secondary Market Pricing: The average sale price for the free code cards represents a significant and unwarranted CPC (Cost Per Collector) for fans simply seeking an official in-game item.
• Limited Allocation: Retail staff have confirmed extremely limited code quantities, leading to immediate stock outs and denying access to the vast majority of players.
• Timing Conflict: The simultaneous release of the new Pokémon TCG set drastically increased store traffic and the number of scalpers looking to profit from both video game and card collectibles.

Community Backlash and the Need for a Digital Remedy

The fan reaction has been one of intense disappointment and anger directed at both The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) and the partnering retailers. The community consensus is that a digital distribution via the game’s existing Mystery Gift online feature would have entirely circumvented the scalping issue, ensuring every player with a copy of Scarlet or Violet could legitimately claim the Legendary Pokémon.

Frustrated players are now organizing mass complaint campaigns, urging TPCi to acknowledge the problem and implement a retroactive digital distribution. This move would not only resolve the scarcity crisis in regions with GameStop but also address the concerns of players in countries across the global South and parts of Europe, where the event is either not taking place or has been indefinitely postponed. The current situation serves as a stark reminder of the negative impact that artificial scarcity and commercial greed can have on a fan-driven, global entertainment brand.

The distribution of Shiny Koraidon (for Pokémon Violet) and Shiny Miraidon (for Pokémon Scarlet) is a highly-valued event due to their status as Shiny-locked competitive and collector’s items. The inability of many dedicated fans to obtain them legitimately is a major blow to the community, highlighting a crucial flaw in the execution of what should have been a universally positive promotional campaign for the franchise.

Keywords: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Shiny Koraidon, Shiny Miraidon, GameStop, Scalping, Shiny-locked, Legendary Pokémon, Distribution Event, Mystery Gift, Limited Supply, TCG, High CPC, Online Auction, Game Freak, Competitive Pokémon.