Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
The new Pitch Black set finally comes to Pokémon TCG Live
The Pitch Black expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game has arrived in Pokémon TCG Live, the game's digital platform, alongside its physical release. The Darkrai-themed set brings 115 new cards to the online version, letting players who buy physical booster packs redeem a code to unlock the same content digitally, while also introducing quality-of-life upgrades to the deck-building tools.
To celebrate the launch, TCG Live has refreshed its battle board colour scheme and is giving players a free Mega Darkrai ex deck plus three new tutorial lessons. A new Battle Pass offers a Mega Chandelure ex deck and cosmetic items such as a hat and shirt, alongside a developer-written guide to help players progress through it. The update also revamps the Deck Editor with new rarity and regulation filters, adds a deck-validity checker, resets player ranks with fresh rewards like a Master Ball, and highlights selected cards in the collection view.
In short
- Pitch Black's 115 new cards land in Pokémon TCG Live
- Free Mega Darkrai ex deck and new tutorials for players
- Deck Editor, ranks and Battle Pass rewards also updated
Explained simply
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a traditional card game where players buy booster packs containing physical cards to build decks and compete against others. Pokémon TCG Live is the digital version of this game, offering the same gameplay on computers and mobile devices rather than with physical cards.
Players who purchase physical booster packs can redeem codes to unlock the same cards in TCG Live. This means someone can engage with both the physical and digital versions of the game, with their purchases working across both platforms.
The regular release of new card sets on TCG Live keeps the digital version synchronised with what is available to buy in physical form, maintaining a unified competitive environment. This integration between physical and digital card games has become increasingly important as digital gaming expands, allowing players to choose their preferred way to play or to enjoy both simultaneously.