Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Saros review
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Best turn-based RPGs
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • Delta Force giveaway
Don't miss these
Pokemon Legends Z-A Mystery Gift codes for Mega Garchomp Z
Pokemon All Pokemon Legends Z-A Mystery Gift Codes and Rewards (May 2026)
Pokemon Go codes
Pokemon Pokemon Go codes (May 2026) and how to redeem them
Pokemon Presents 2026
Pokemon All Pokemon Presents 2026 codes and rewards for Pokemon Go, Legends Z-A, TCG Pocket, and more
The pre-order bonus Ditto Rug, one of the Pokemon Pokopia Mystery Gifts.
Pokemon Pokemon Pokopia Mystery Gift Codes and Rewards (May 2026)
Pikachu fainted, looking worn out on the ground in the Pokemon anime.
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon card resellers get their comeuppance with a cunning yet simple trick
Pokemon Champion Caraway winks to the camera in Pokemon Champions.
Pokemon Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes (May 2026)
Pokemon First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 box against a colorful background with a Charmander, statues, and other items from the original video games
Tabletop Gaming Where to buy Pokemon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1, the adorable release
Ascended Heroes Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box on a wooden table
Tabletop Gaming Ascended Heroes doesn't revolutionize Pokemon cards, but it's still an essential purchase
A selection of Pokemon card listings with 'sold out' over the top
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon Center tackles resellers with 'Early Access' for cards, merch, and more, and it's about bloody time
Pickmon
Survival Games Pokemon and Palworld clone Pickmos removed from Steam: "We are revising the game"
The Ultra Rare Mew stamp from the Pokopia Stamp Rally.
Pokemon Pokemon Pokopia Stamp Rally explained
A Pyroar looking at a Pokemon Chaos Rising Booster Bundle pack
Tabletop Gaming Grab these Pokemon Chaos Rising cards before they disappear back into the long grass
Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Pokemon Champions matches end in draws when the timer runs out, and no one can decide if that's a good thing
Knocked-out Pikachu beside an Japanese Illustrator Pokemon card
Tabletop Gaming This might be the most valuable Pokemon card ever made, and it just sold for over $1m
Pokemon
Nintendo Switch 2 Everything announced at the Pokemon Presents February showcase to celebrate Pokemon Day 2026
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Adventure Games
  3. Pokemon
  4. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

GameStop blames Pokemon Company for botched Scarlet and Violet shiny giveaway: "Not our decision"

News
By Anthony McGlynn published 6 October 2025

Special Shiny Pokémon for Scarlet and Violet have become subject to scalping

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Koraidon in Pokémon Scarlet
(Image credit: Nintendo)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

A Pokemon giveaway from GameStop that started poorly has somehow managed to get worse. The video games and pop culture retailer is giving out codes for special shiny versions of a couple of Legendary Pokémon, and the only people who’re satisfied right now are scalpers.

It started last week, with the announcement that GameStop would be handing out codes for Shiny Koraidon and Shiny Miraidon, the respective mascots of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, on the Nintendo Switch. These specially colored iterations haven’t been publicly available before now, causing quite the scurry.

Problems arose when it was discovered that these keys came in physical cards rather than through digital means, placing an inherent limit on the number available and making their distribution a complete free-for-all. As you might have guessed, lots who wanted even one were left empty-handed, while resellers could fill their boots on eBay.

Latest Videos From
You may like
  • Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab
  • Moltres flies onto the screen in the Pokemon anime Proving the universe has favorites, Pokemon Blue player accidentally catches a shiny legendary they couldn't even see
  • Pikachu fainted, looking worn out on the ground in the Pokemon anime. Pokemon card resellers get their comeuppance with a cunning yet simple trick

Regarding Shiny Koraidon and Shiny Miraidon codes pic.twitter.com/FXYPfwjmkXOctober 5, 2025

Following that, GameStop revealed another wave of codes was on the way, under slightly different criteria. They would now be printed on receipts, but only 50 are available per store. Artificial scarcity is still an issue, and many items are available on eBay for prices ranging from a couple of dollars to $20 or more.

GameStop states there are restricted amounts coming from the Pokémon Company, and it commits to "providing more to fans if Pokémon makes additional codes available." When asked on X/Twitter if this was the company’s choice, GameStop simply responded, "Not our decision."

Onlookers are skeptical, as the shinies are going via different means from country to country. Japan, the Netherlands, and various other countries in Europe all have distinct ways of redeeming the special dragons. However, as of now, this is the situation for GameStop in the US. Catch 'em all, unless you need a code from GameStop.

Pokemon fans revive old, official "Rescue Team" initiative to help players free 23-year-old GBA 'mons from their Gen 3 prisons – and beyond – and get them on Switch

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Nintendo Switch Platforms Nintendo
Anthony McGlynn
Anthony McGlynn
Social Links Navigation
Contributing Writer

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist, now based in Glasgow. He previously served as Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, on top of providing work for Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many more. Besides Studio Ghibli, horror movies, and The Muppets, he enjoys action-RPGs, heavy metal, and pro-wrestling. He interviewed Animal once, not that he won’t stop going on about it or anything.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
Pokemon Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab
 
 
Moltres flies onto the screen in the Pokemon anime
JRPGs Proving the universe has favorites, Pokemon Blue player accidentally catches a shiny legendary they couldn't even see
 
 
Pikachu fainted, looking worn out on the ground in the Pokemon anime.
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon card resellers get their comeuppance with a cunning yet simple trick
 
 
Pokemon booster collections and tins on an orange background with 'in stock' badge
Toys & Collectibles Amazon is celebrating 30 years of Pokemon with hard-to-find boosters and anti-reseller tactics
 
 
A selection of Pokemon card listings with 'sold out' over the top
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon Center tackles resellers with 'Early Access' for cards, merch, and more, and it's about bloody time
 
 
Venusaur artwork
Pokemon Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are skipping Switch Online because Nintendo "thought it would be fun"
 
 
Latest in Pokemon
A human ditto jumping in the air during Pokemon Pokopia
Pokemon Pokopia is already in the top 5 best-selling Pokemon spin-offs, with around 20% of Switch 2 owners buying the cozy sim
 
 
Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
Pokemon Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are now some of the best-selling Pokemon games of all time
 
 
Image of the set of Pokemon Center Pokemon Pokopia plushies sitting on top official Nintendo key-art of the game.
Toys & Collectibles The Pokemon Pokopia plushies are so cute that they're about to transform my bank account into a big pile of zero dollars
 
 
A Pitch Black booster pack and Elite Trainer box beside one another on a colorful purple and green background
Tabletop Gaming Where to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black
 
 
Mega Darkrai ex in a green and purple swirl
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon TCG kicks off a dark new chapter with Pitch Black expansion
 
 
Pikachu fainted, looking worn out on the ground in the Pokemon anime.
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon card resellers get their comeuppance with a cunning yet simple trick
 
 
Latest in News
Psychonauts
Xbox First-party Xbox studio Double Fine is unionizing
 
 
Black and white shot of stunned Fortnite character
Battle Royale Games Epic knows everyone's afraid "AI is going to take all our jobs," but the goal is efficiency
 
 
Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 YouTube hack yanked days after players find a way to watch videos in a free battle royale game
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Withers, a mummified corpse-like man with gray features and golden adornments
Baldur's Gate One Baldur's Gate 3 fan is on a mission to complete the weirdest collection in the RPG
 
 
Imogen Poots in Outer Range
Comedy Shows Chronology of Water and Stranger Things stars set to lead new TV show based on popular comic
 
 
Exodus screenshot
RPGs Mass Effect hasn't been great in "a long time," but Exodus can fill the gap according to Hasbro CEO
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Psychonauts
    1
    First-party Xbox studio Double Fine is unionizing
  2. 2
    Out of respect for Slippy Toad, I need you to play the OG Star Fox 64 on an actual N64
  3. 3
    Nintendo Switch 2 YouTube hack yanked days after players find a way to watch videos in a free battle royale game
  4. 4
    Epic knows everyone's afraid "AI is going to take all our jobs," but the goal is efficiency
  5. 5
    One Baldur's Gate 3 fan is on a mission to complete the weirdest collection in the RPG

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...