PSA at 8.2 million
PSA's fortnightly backlog update on October 6 put the active queue at 8.2 million cards, down 800,000 from September 22 and 4.2 million from the July 28 peak, a 34 percent reduction in ten weeks. The $59.99 Standard tier that opened September 14 did not slow the line meaningfully: the pace eased from 450,000 to about 400,000 a week, inside the range we set last week. PSA said sustained progress "would put the company in position to assess reopening additional service tiers in the coming months," its most forward-leaning language yet. At the current pace the 5 million threshold for the Value tiers arrives in the first week of December. The full six-reading chart and arithmetic are in this issue's Chart of the Day.
Pocket's next series
Pokemon TCG Pocket's October expansion, first announced at PokemonXP in San Francisco, starts a new series once Deluxe Pack: Mega ends on October 29. It introduces two mechanics: dual-type Pokemon, cards with two types that work with Stadium and Supporter cards from both, with a Psychic-and-Fighting Mega Mewtwo X ex at 180 HP the first revealed; and basic Pokemon ex such as Fuecoco ex (130 HP) and Piplup ex (120 HP) as early-game alternatives to evolution lines. Separately, Pocket is reworking its step-up battles at the end of October into a staged format of rising difficulty. For the paper market, dual types are a mechanic the physical game has used for a decade; the thing to watch is which Pokemon Pocket puts in front of its players next, because that is what we have been testing for a paper-price effect since August.
TCG Live's update
Pokemon TCG Live pushed a client update on Tuesday, October 6 at 10 a.m. Pacific on all platforms, three weeks after the September 15 update that added the accessibility settings and refreshed Battle Board. 30th Celebration has been in the client since September 15; Delta Reign arrives with the set on November 6.
Goldin's undercard
Beneath the Trophy Pikachu in Goldin's 30th Anniversary auction, closing October 25: a BGS Pristine 10 Skyridge Gengar #H9, the crystal-era chase whose PSA 10 made $150,000 on eBay in August, and the next test of what a Pristine label is worth against a PSA 10 comp; a PSA 10 2000 Black Star Eevee League promo; a 2000 Black Star Venusaur promo; and a sealed 2005 EX Deoxys booster box. EX Deoxys produced the $1.02 million Rayquaza Gold Star and the $456,000 Latias Gold Star Pristine, its basket line is up 15 percent since mid-September, and a sealed box is 36 chances at a Gold Star. Sealed vintage is priced as an option on the cards inside; the cards inside have never been more expensive.
Sources: Heavy, October 6, 2026; Game8, updated August 31, 2026; ICv2, October 7, 2026.
Quick Hits ran in The Pack Report, October 8, 2026: The First Trophy Pikachu Is Up for Auction, and PSA Is at 8.2 Million. Published by Rip Station.