Japan's McDonald's saw a massive scramble for its Pokémon Happy Meal cards and toys, with "Pokémon Cards" being hoarded and resold, even leading to huge amounts of food waste. This chaos unfortunately led to the cancellation of the planned "ONE PIECE Card Game" collaboration.
These special "ONE PIECE Card Game" cards were originally slated as Happy Meal giveaways. However, yesterday (October 7), BANDAI announced via its official website and X account that the cards will now be distributed as "tournament prizes" and "purchase bonuses."
These cards were initially set to drop on August 29 with McDonald's Happy Meals in Japan. But before that, McDonald's collaborations with "Pokémon Card Game," "Minecraft," and "Chiikawa" were plagued by scalpers buying up huge quantities for resale, even causing massive food waste and public outcry.
Consequently, McDonald's decided, after a full evaluation, to halt the "ONE PIECE Card Game" Happy Meal collaboration. Now, following negotiations between BANDAI and McDonald's, the cards will be re-released through channels that better ensure they reach actual players – a welcome response to fan anticipation.
Under the new plan, the cards will first be distributed at official card game tournaments and store events across Japan. The promotion runs from October 17 to November 30, while supplies last. There are two versions of the card packs: "Event Distribution Pack A" and "Event Distribution Pack B," each containing three cards.
Event Distribution Pack A (Official Tournaments)
Event Distribution Pack B (Family Events, Tutorial Sessions)
Beyond event venues, players can also snag these cards by purchasing card game products. Simply buy 1,500 JPY or more of "ONE PIECE Card Game" merchandise at participating card shops to receive one "2025 Promo Pack" (containing 6 cards, which are the same as those mentioned above). This promotion also kicks off on October 17 and runs while supplies last.
Since its launch, the "ONE PIECE Card Game" has captivated players worldwide with its deep strategy and stunning artwork. When the McDonald's collaboration was initially canceled, many fans and players were bummed. Now, with its announced return, the community is buzzing with cheers! Netizens are exclaiming, "Awesome to get them at tournaments!" "Getting them with in-store purchases is super generous!" and "Finally, no more worrying about scalpers!"
This revamped distribution method isn't just fairer; it ensures that true players can actually get their hands on these cards. So, if you're a fan looking to score them, you'll need to hit up major card shops and tournament events across Japan!
