The Pokémon Center is reportedly preparing to overhaul its website's anti-bot security system, in a move that could give ordinary collectors a fairer shot at buying 30th anniversary trading card products. Recent pre-order drops have been dominated by bots that snap up stock within seconds, leaving human buyers frustrated as the existing CAPTCHA system slowed down traffic but failed to stop automated purchases. According to retail-tracking Discord servers with backend access, new dynamic security checks are imminent and would mark a significant shift in how the site defends against scalpers.

Leaked graphics suggest the new checks include challenges such as "Rotation Match", "Path Follow" and "Target Align", each requiring users to manipulate a moving on-screen object, a task designed to be difficult for bots to automate. The changes could arrive in time for the next major drop, the $179.99 Ultra Premium Collection, which is already being resold by scalpers well above retail price. The update would echo similar anti-bot measures recently introduced by Target and Walmart, and comes ahead of further 30th anniversary releases, including the Ditto Premium Collection and Figure Collection, before the range formally launches on 16 September.