Latest Merchandise News

Neopets Trading Cards Launching Tomorrow

Posted by Joe on January 16, 2023, 2:14 pm NST

Update (1/31/2023): Upper Deck has provided a further update.
Already owned digital cards can now be redeemed for physical cards again.
These cards will still be needed to complete the Paint Brush Achievements at the end of the program so if you are planning on completing the set, you should wait until the end to have everything shipped.
Packs will still be limited to 499 per week and staying at $5.99 per pack.
No eta yet on next drop as they are still working with Jumpstart/Neopets on some details.

Read the Notice »

Update (1/23/2023): Due to the feedback received from the Neopets Community, Upper Deck has decided to put future releases on hold. They are working with The Neopets Team and will provide updates as available.

Update (1/24/2023): This morning physical redemption has been turned off for cards that people already own. (Their redemption status now reflects as "pending.")

Read the Notice »

The long awaited Trading Card series from Upper Deck will be launching tomorrow at 9am NST on UpperDeckePack.com!

Upper Deck e-Pack features a hybrid of both digital and physical trading cards. The site allows you to collect and trade digitally, and then redeem certain digital cards for physical copies.

All cards in this set will be eligible for physical card redemption. You must own the digital copy (and it must not have been previously redeemed!!) in order to claim the printed version. Digital cards may be traded within the app in order to complete your sets before redemption. Caution: Always check to see that the card you are trading for has not yet been redeemed before trading for it.

When redeeming physical copies of your cards, there is a flat shipping charge starting at $5.00 (USD) (with pricier options if you want expedited shipping), plus $1.00 for the first card and $0.25 for each additional card. The fees apply to each batch of cards you redeem, so to save money, wait until you have all the cards you're hoping to get physical copies of.

New packs will be released every Tuesday at 9am NST (a maximum of 499 packs per week for $5.99 each) for the next 9 weeks, each containing that week's 3 base series cards as well as one of three Baby variant cards.

Update: Week one packs sold out in 12 minutes

1 in six packs will also contain a Faerie variant card. 1 in 12 packs a code card with a code redeemable for an exclusive item on Neopets.com. Printing plates (limited to 1 each) will also be randomly inserted.

Full Press Release

Make a Comment!

There are 81 comments below. Add yours!

Kinda weird they made a Mutant Paintbrush for this... Wonder if it means anything for the game?
by staphyjr on January 16, 2023 2:43 PM NST

Since these are virtual cards, does that mean anyone can buy them as opposed to most other Neo merch (because nothing ever ships outside of the US)? I'd maybe be willing to try for a rare item code, lol. But if I understand correctly, they only have 499 packs to sell and can actually sell out.. interesting x_x
by biediep on January 16, 2023 3:25 PM NST

Uh oh, they show the item code prizes... I might be in trouble.
Although 1 in 12? Those are terrible odds! I don't want the cards themselves. There is no indication of what the prices will be, so I'll have to decide later.
by purplebin on January 16, 2023 3:55 PM NST

It's nice that they want to bring back trading cards, although I prefer the classic TCGs. It feels lazy that they used the converted poses instead of new ones (or the old poses) but its my personal opinion.
by anunsureneopian on January 16, 2023 4:04 PM NST

I miss the TCG version of trading cards. Why can't we have those back? Like, in stores.

They were also sooo much nicer appearing.
by puffkins2000 on January 16, 2023 4:13 PM NST

The design of these are horrendous. Woof.
by onelittlespark on January 16, 2023 4:16 PM NST

I don't like the cards themselves at all.
I'm still waiting for delivery of my Tarot Card deck!
by purplebin on January 16, 2023 4:22 PM NST

It took me so long to parse what was actually being sold here, I think I may be getting too old for these things.
Though is this even what the KIDS are into? I could understand if it was a trading card GAME, but this just seems silly. It doesn't even have the attached scam of "oh these will totally be worth more someday" that suckered people into NFTs.
by hollyfrosty on January 16, 2023 4:34 PM NST

Um, no.
by roshchodesh on January 16, 2023 6:22 PM NST

@hollyfrosty
I doubt that this has to do with your age. I think that most of the time, when people are asking themselves “am I just too old for this?” the thing is just not very good. I also think it is kind of mean, when things are made for kids in a “who cares they consume anything” type of way. I think it is especially important if it is meant for kids, I mean it is kind of their introduction to the world we all live in. They will shape their understanding of the world with the media they interact with (among other things of course). I do think it is still important when we are adults of course, we do also still learn and shape how we view the world (at least I do). Also I think it is fantastic if you can grow up with a thing and still like it when you are an adult. =)

Personally I think this Card Collecting thing would made a lot more sense if it were better interwoven with a game mechanic or if you could collect them physically as stickers or something.
by mimili__23 on January 16, 2023 6:52 PM NST

yeah, i feel like the cards are too lazy.

the reason why i collected the original cards when i was younger was because i loved the unique art (and still do). you could get a random boring card like "hot cocoa" or "strawberries" but the unique scenic art was still interesting. but with this tcg... any of this art is art we've seen for years already?

at least put nice nc/np backgrounds behind them?? they're so boring.
and what's with the giant white square? i hate it. lol
by inkpot on January 16, 2023 8:05 PM NST

How much do they cost???
by absolutejudith on January 16, 2023 9:06 PM NST

Could be, I like cards.
But as above, the Notice of the Tarot cards, would bee nice where to find..
Happy New Moon *moon* *coffee*
by blueflower6014 on January 16, 2023 9:39 PM NST

Mutant Paint brush? D:
by trisangum on January 16, 2023 10:13 PM NST

Mutant Paint Brush--standardizing for non-Neopians? Like the artist, because who else would want a non-Neopian item as a collector's card? Maybe the NFTers, but they liked ugly apes before the super tanking....
by breezydreams on January 16, 2023 10:49 PM NST

Borders on another scam a la the NFTs.
FIX THE SITE if you want my money!
by rosamooooo on January 17, 2023 12:14 AM NST

...Is it just me.. or do these look like rectangles of cardboard with a basic Neopets image slapped on them? Where's the cool art from the Wizards of the Coast era? I won't pay for this, I could make these myself!

Also.. still no News? Did they fire the person in charge of the News page or something?
by apophis324 on January 17, 2023 12:30 AM NST

You know, I'm still waiting for the tarot deck and RIC that was supposed to manifest! More stuff?
by katina_choovanski on January 17, 2023 12:50 AM NST

I cannot wait until 9:00 a.m. to not buy these!!!
by roshchodesh on January 17, 2023 2:54 AM NST

This... is the same art we've been looking at for 15 years now. Why would I want this? Physical or digital?
by falsely on January 17, 2023 3:05 AM NST

I'm screaming these are legit hideous; they go hand in hand with those NFTs imo. Customization pose really is the least flattering iteration of Neopets, we all only tolerate them because otherwise customization wouldn't be possible. When they said trading card I was thinking more like the TCGs released in the 2000s, maybe a bit less fancy given the state of the site but not this.
by mortychichi on January 17, 2023 3:16 AM NST

This is so lazy. As someone who actively still plays the original neopets TCG game, these are not "cards". These are printed versions of pets with their respective paint brushes. There was no "art" involved unlike the previous ones. You would be much better off re-releasing the original cards and adding whatever item codes you want.
by puter8o9 on January 17, 2023 4:30 AM NST

Oh, I didn't see the mutant paint brush. They want to break the lore just for consistency?

Looking at the cards back again, they might work as "cute", cheap stikers you get with your purchases, rather than trading cards. They look as if they rushed a graphic designer to design them in the less time possible. The mutant kougra one, for example, has a terrible composition.
by anunsureneopian on January 17, 2023 6:19 AM NST

These cards are way too busy design-wise.
by dave on January 17, 2023 9:08 AM NST JN Staff

Well, I got a couple of packs, and one Loot card! But I can't figure out how to get the code from it...
by purplebin on January 17, 2023 9:15 AM NST

Purplebin

I think you may have to check out and have the card sent physically
by _sissiy_sis_369 on January 17, 2023 9:52 AM NST

I think so too. There are no instructions for that! I have sent a message.
by purplebin on January 17, 2023 10:06 AM NST

So still no real game attached to the cards? That sucks :c

Idk if the original TCG was even a good game, but that at least gave it substance
by serpentshrine on January 17, 2023 10:10 AM NST

Well, there are instructions, but I'm still not sure that's what I'm supposed to do.
Boy, this was a terrible idea.
by purplebin on January 17, 2023 10:12 AM NST

How are these already sold out..?
by zebshep on January 17, 2023 10:18 AM NST

It will take over a week, and cost another $5.
Never again!
by purplebin on January 17, 2023 10:23 AM NST

That one code is costing me about $41, I am an idiot.
by purplebin on January 17, 2023 10:27 AM NST

first week sold out in 12 minutes.
$5.99 a pack
18 packs (average) a week are needed to get a full set (as you need nine complete baby sets to get the full mutant set, and three faerie cards as week at 1 in 6 cards)

code card needs to be redeemed for the physical copy in order to get the code for Neopets (it's printed under a scratch off on the actual card)
by joe on January 17, 2023 10:45 AM NST JN Staff

12 minutes? I knew I needed to be quick, but I guess now I wish I had been too late. Just making an account and going through all the ordering took quite a bit of time.
by purplebin on January 17, 2023 11:29 AM NST

I still have DOZENS of boxes of the old TCG cards back when you could buy them in the stores, but I will skip buying these.
by contessa on January 17, 2023 11:31 AM NST

How are these any different than an NFT you "mint" the packs, they release a limited number, they are equally worthless
by catboy9653 on January 17, 2023 12:52 PM NST

It's not an NFT, it's an online trading card! Ugh, maybe I'm a little too cynical these days, but between the low effort card design and having to pay who knows how much extra to receive your physical cards (that may or may not even be available depending on the card) it feels like a scam. Oh, and you might receive an item code, might.
by frozenwren on January 17, 2023 12:56 PM NST

@catboy9653: It's not tied to a blockchain/crypto, so at least you aren't killing as many trees with this.
by dave on January 17, 2023 4:20 PM NST JN Staff

Double sucker whammy you pay for the digital pack (nft *cough*) at roughly twice the price you paid for the real packs of TCG cards years ago, AND then you pay them again to send the tangible version of the digital card. tragic
by roshchodesh on January 17, 2023 4:29 PM NST

@purplebin: You are heroic--bit the virtual bullet for us all!

This does seem like a 'gateway' product for NFTs.

My Active shreds the pixel papers.
by breezydreams on January 17, 2023 9:40 PM NST

Wait. I don't understand. If they limited sales to 499 packs, isn't that like they make only $3500 a week for 9 weeks???? The long awaited trading cards? If each person bought 2 packs, then only 249 people got them?? Did I miss something or is my math wrong? What's the point?
by roshchodesh on January 18, 2023 5:30 AM NST

@roshchodesh Artificial scarcity is the point. Make 'em rare so that people feel they HAVE to have them.
by inverted_destiny on January 18, 2023 6:06 AM NST

^^ yeah, I'm champing at the bit waiting for next Tuesday
by roshchodesh on January 18, 2023 7:46 AM NST

My physical cards are being shipped today, should be here by early next week.
Now I'm wondering if there are 3 different code items each week! That seems like too many... I am not going through this again. There is no way they can be nice enough to be worth it.
by purplebin on January 18, 2023 1:12 PM NST

I think I heard a new trading card game (emphasis on the *game* part) is coming out this year, right?
by theawedude on January 18, 2023 1:22 PM NST

part of me knew it wasn't going to be a relaunch of the og tcg and that part of me is sad but i was still kinda expecting a *game* not just trading and collecting.
looks neat tho.
by hdawg1995 on January 18, 2023 6:47 PM NST

@purplebin: You just know those item codes are going to lead to super rare, potentially untradable album items, right? Because nothing screams fairness as much as making sought-after things nigh unobtainable~!
by apophis324 on January 18, 2023 11:48 PM NST

Most of the item code things have been very rare and expensive. I nearly passed on the cards and was going to try to buy the wearable items if they were good. Now at least I have something to trade if I don't get the ones I like. Maybe.
by purplebin on January 19, 2023 8:28 AM NST

@ purplebin Bon Chance. We're rooting for you 🧡
by roshchodesh on January 19, 2023 12:48 PM NST

There's only one type of code card, so only the three different virtual items pictured on the card - https://merch.jellyneo.net/products/6250/
Though at 1 in 12.2 packs there will only be about 368 Code Cards (or 120 of each virtual item) across the entire run.

In regard to the number of folks who could buy, the max you could buy per transaction was three packs (but you could do as many transactions as you wanted) I think I've only seen one person who bought less than three packs, which puts it at around 166 people. (which severely limits the 'achievement' cards that you can only get for completing sets)
by joe on January 19, 2023 7:17 PM NST JN Staff

Wow, this is SUPER scummy! Ugh. I actually really like the card designs, they remind me of the Topps Pokemon cards of the mid-2000s (they weren't TCG, they just had a big picture of the Pokemon and a little info blurb on the back). I like having a few of this sort of card to use as bookmarks. That said, I don't wanna collect even half of them, and I don't give a hoot about online digital cards! Think maybe I'll be able to buy somebody's unwanted physical cards on ebay in a few years for a decent price? :/ Oof...
by pearwiggler on January 20, 2023 10:35 AM NST

Since this will be going on for a while I have time to get my code cards in the mail and see what items they give, and if I'm really stupid I can try again if necessary...
I forgot all about the new batch today! I would have missed it anyway.
by purplebin on January 20, 2023 1:34 PM NST

...That's not a mutant Kacheek, guys. It's Darigan!
https://wardrobe.jellyneo.net/rainbow-pool/?pet=kacheek&colour=darigan
SMH, kids these days know what NFTs are, but don't remember Lord Darigan....
by neon_zephyr on January 20, 2023 4:15 PM NST

@neon_zephyr
I'm not sure if this is exactly what you are referring to, but if some of us talked about the mutant paint brush is because in the full press release there are also examples of cards with mutant pets.
by anunsureneopian on January 21, 2023 6:41 AM NST

Are people really buying this junk and thinking this is better than NFT? lol sure it has no unique hash attached to it, but it's still digital bs, with no value, nothing to play, nothing on Neopets itself, just a vague and potentially low chance of getting a physical card or two (which you can buy on eBay, like real boosters of real cards or even separate cards for a dollar or two).
by ferinsy on January 21, 2023 7:09 PM NST

https://cdn-dynamics.azurewebsites.net/Content/Index/757ed35e-e275-4a0f-95be-440ddaab589a
That shows the Mutant Paint Brush
by purplebin on January 21, 2023 8:04 PM NST

My Loot Cards are due to arrive tomorrow... I don't know what I'll do if I don't get the code items I want. I have a bad feeling more money will be spent.
by purplebin on January 22, 2023 11:27 AM NST

Well, I got the Grazing Babaa Plains BG I wanted most! Also the Painting Weewoo Houses Trinket I don't really want. Thinking of trading that for the Decorative Garden Hideaway BG, but I doubt anyone would make that trade.
by purplebin on January 23, 2023 10:47 AM NST

Looks like no one is getting the Decorative Garden Hideaway now... Not unless someone can trade for a Loot card on the Upper Deck site!
by purplebin on January 23, 2023 6:38 PM NST

I am legitimately shocked that a Neopets project in 2023 went "okay, we heard you that this cash grab sucks. we're going to put it on pause and restructure it". Especially since they sold regardless! The bar is definitely underground here, but I'm still impressed.
by hollyfrosty on January 23, 2023 9:54 PM NST

what exactly have they "heard"?
the cash-grab part? or the "these are ugly" part?
by inkpot on January 23, 2023 10:25 PM NST

Well, that was a short-lived catastrophe. What other 'not quite pretty to look at art-related thing' related to Neopets ended as quickly as it spawned....
by apophis324 on January 24, 2023 12:34 AM NST

Neopets! Ripping off loyal, trusting followers, painfully and slowly, every chance we get
by roshchodesh on January 24, 2023 7:46 AM NST

Turned off the redemption of cards people ALREADY OWN?
by purplebin on January 24, 2023 9:35 AM NST

Well, yes. But this entitles them to the all-new "Pending" status, envied by millions.
by sacanth on January 24, 2023 10:01 AM NST

Putting a pause on things--if for some reason they choose not resume--feels like it screws even more people than the original set up did.

At least before, it was really only people who wanted to buy but missed out that got screwed. Which sucks, but no one lost money.

Now, the people who bought into the set might be getting screwed.
by dave on January 24, 2023 11:32 AM NST JN Staff

"...the passion and support for our initial Neopets Weekly Pack release" -> doubtfully
by anunsureneopian on January 24, 2023 12:14 PM NST

They sold out in 12 minutes, I dont see the problem. Buy them if you want, dont buy them if you dont.
by premium17 on January 24, 2023 2:50 PM NST

^ Because people don't like it when TNT tries to make money because they want them to fix the site first. That hasn't changed in 15 years.

It's a catch-22, though. They can't fix the site if they don't make money, but people aren't going to support them if they don't fix the site.
by fluffymcgerbilpants on January 24, 2023 3:00 PM NST

i don't understand the appeal of digital trading cards.

i feel like the reason it sold out in 12 minutes is very clearly because most of those buyers wanted the physical cards. if not for collecting, then for the code/s.

i'll wait to see if/how they fulfill orders on this first set of physical cards before i call it a scummy move, but im not holding my breath.
by jjensen688 on January 24, 2023 4:21 PM NST

I got my two physical cards shipped right away, and got them in the mail yesterday and was able to redeem the codes. I wonder how many other people did that. I've only seen one other code item for trade, and one of the three hasn't shown up anywhere yet.
by purplebin on January 24, 2023 4:29 PM NST

@premium17
thanks, we never thought of that
by roshchodesh on January 24, 2023 6:00 PM NST

@premium17 the issue here is that a LOT of people didn't know they were releasing, so they didn't actually have that opportunity, and since this is a weekly set, that effectively meant that all of those people are now not able to complete the set.
by joe on January 24, 2023 6:53 PM NST JN Staff

@premium17
It doesn't matter if the cards were sold out in 12 minutes.
The people who buy stuff like these cards are usually a minority who will always buy neopets merch. But if NetDragon wants to continue expanding the Neopets merch to a general audience
(casual players and people who no longer play neopets but liked the game) they know that their reputation is at stake.

As a company, you want the fans of your IP to trust you. If people complain about the quality of the products, shipping times, using the IP to make NFTs, etc., you and your partners will lose customers. Both the ones who already bought from you and future ones.

That's why it's important how people react to the product.
by anunsureneopian on January 24, 2023 7:01 PM NST

It really has been like watching a car crash happening in slow motion with the announcement and then each subsequent update that's come over the last few days.
by surferboard_girl on January 24, 2023 7:45 PM NST

I got an update that my Tarot Card Deck would be late, but nothing for a while and now it's really late.
by purplebin on January 24, 2023 8:00 PM NST

anyone else having near nonstop bad gateways

they can't even get the site fixed
by themeepit32 on January 25, 2023 3:43 AM NST

^Yet they force us out of one of the last few well-working pages (Inventory). You're still allowed to play Flash games if you can, but because "they don't update the Inventory anymore", you can't go and use that if you want...
by apophis324 on January 26, 2023 12:07 AM NST

@purplebin, glad you got the BG you wanted.

As much trouble as purplebin had, finding out how to redeem physical cards and get codes, many other buyers may have floundered, or put it off until too late.

We may hope they get what they paid for, or that the company offers to send codes to all buyers via a simple online claim form--to compensate for the bait-and-switch--er, inconvenience.

I think it is illegal in most places to sell a product and then fail to deliver all that was sold: "Harumph! I know we sold you the car, but we have decided not to deliver the engine or tires. We'll mark your account "pending".
by breezydreams on January 26, 2023 2:46 PM NST

I just got the update myself.
At least people who started getting these aren't left high and dry, and also more item code cards should be available eventually.
by purplebin on January 31, 2023 12:00 PM NST

Loved the unfold of it xD Hopefully people learn to not trust these digital cashgrab things, it happened once with the digital junk cards and it's happening again, nice!
by ferinsy on January 31, 2023 5:31 PM NST