Mega Evolutions Set Delayed in — What You Need to Know
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What’s Going On?
The highly anticipated Pokémon TCG "Mega Evolution" expansion, originally scheduled for release on 26 September 2025 in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), has officially been delayed by two weeks. The new launch date for these regions is 10 October 2025. Other regions—like North America—are unaffected and will stick with the original release date. PokéBeachVGCWargamerNintendo Life
Why the Delay?
Pokémon Company and its partners have cited logistics and delivery challenges as the cause. Here's the official statement:
“Due to challenges impacting product delivery dates, the release of the upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game: Mega Evolution will be slightly delayed in EMEA markets. … We apologise to our fans … products will be available for purchase by 10 October 2025.” PokéBeachVGCNintendo LifeBulbagarden
Tournament Implications
A key concern for competitive players is whether there will be any impact on card legality and tournament play.
According to follow-up details, cards from the Mega Evolution set will become Standard-legal in those delayed regions on 24 October 2025—which is after their new release date. Bulbagarden
Thankfully, there are no EMEA Regional Championships scheduled between 10 and 24 October 2025, meaning the delay should not disrupt the Championship Series. Events in Milwaukee and Belo Horizonte, which begin around 10–12 October, remain unaffected. Bulbagarden
What Fans Are Saying
Players online—especially on forums like Reddit—are already reacting to the news:
"2 week scramble for cards if you haven't already pre-ordered…" Reddit
Clearly, many are worried about availability and being left behind at competitive or collector levels due to the shorter timeframe post-release.
The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters
The Mega Evolution set marks a major return of Mega Pokémon to the TCG, featuring new “Mega Ultra Rare” (MUR) gold cards, and icons like Mega Lucario ex, Mega Gardevoir ex, and others. VGCThe Hobby BinInsider GamingCard-Binder.com
Collectors and players across EMEA who were eagerly awaiting their chance to dive into these high-impact cards now face a compressed window to secure packs ahead of tournaments, which could drive prices up and increase demand—even for last-minute imports.
Summary Table
| Region | Original Release | New EMEA Release | Standard-Legal Date | Tournament Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America, etc. | 26 Sep 2025 | — | — | Unaffected |
| Europe, Middle East, Africa | 26 Sep 2025 | 10 Oct 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | No disruption to regionals |
Final Thoughts
The delay of the Mega Evolution set may feel like a small logistical shift on paper—but for collectors and competitors in EMEA, it’s significant. This extra wait could intensify demand, create competition for restocks, and add stress right when players were gearing up for regional play.