As posted on the Pokémon TCG Online forums, the long-awaited, new version of multiplayer will be released next week. According to PTCGO’s Community Manager, Mike Liesik, the core components of multiplayer will be added to the client after next week’s scheduled update. These include battling other players, deck building and access to the two latest TCG expansions, Dark Explorers and Dragons Exalted. Extra features like trading and rated battles will be added in the coming months. Let’s hope the new version of the game was worth the long wait!
As currently planned, next week’s game update for the Pokémon TCG Online Windows-client will include the core components of multiplayer. These upgrades will permit a player to build custom decks using cards from his or her collection and battle against other players, or computer-controlled opponents. In addition, players will have access to the Black & White–Dark Explorers set and the Black & White–Dragons Exalted set when it launches! Features such as trading and ranked battles will be rolled out in the coming months.
To prepare for the release of multiplayer, our development team is deploying some improvements to the game’s patcher later this week. Players can download the patcher update this weekend, which will result in reduced patch times when multiplayer releases next week. Players that don’t download the patcher update this weekend will receive both the patcher update and the multiplayer update at the same time.
We understand that this transition is difficult for Mac users but we believe that their patience will be well-rewarded when the Mac client launches later this year. As digital collections are associated with a player’s Pokemon.com account, each player’s cards, theme decks and packs will remain intact even if that player is not able to access the new game client.
Thanks for all your patience and support. I look forward to facing off against all of you with my Rayquaza-EX deck next week!
Prof_Mathis