One Piece Card Game Adopts Facial Recognition to Combat Scalpers
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Bandai Namco is introducing facial recognition systems in Japanese One Piece Card Game stores to block scalpers and track repeat purchases, mirroring similar security steps taken by Pokémon.
Trading card games have turned into massive business operations, but that success comes with a frustrating side effect for everyday players. Scalpers continue to vacuum up retail stock at MSRP to flip for massive markups online, making it nearly impossible for genuine fans to pick up packs without paying ridiculous aftermarket prices. Following a path paved by The Pokémon Company, Bandai Namco is now stepping up its defenses. Starting August 22, official One Piece Card Game shops in Japan will implement facial recognition systems to track store visits and purchase history. Customers flagged as repeat bulk buyers can be denied sales on the spot, with the company aiming to ensure fairer inventory distribution and protect store staff.
While the motivation to curb aggressive scalping and retail crime is clear, the rollout brings up very real data privacy concerns. Bandai Namco's updated policy notes that offline interactions will involve collecting personal images and video, alongside tracking online search history and IP addresses for digital purchases. Surveillance of this scale is bound to spark intense debate among players who feel the cure might be worse than the disease. For now, these measures are strictly limited to locations in Japan, meaning international players will not have to scan their faces just to grab a booster box. Still, as physical card gaming continues to boom, publishers are clearly willing to cross new technological lines to keep store shelves stocked for actual fans.
Tags: One Piece Card Game, Trading Card Games, Pokémon, Gaming News, Industry Trends
Original article: Polygon