The Game Deflators E377 | Why Pokémon LEGO Is EXPENSIVE and GameStop Is in HOT WATER

John and Ryan return with a jam‑packed conversation that swings from tabletop quiet spells to the wild frontiers of modern gaming culture. They kick things off by digging into why Dungeons & Dragons has been unusually silent in 2025, exploring the slowdown in new book releases and what it might mean for longtime fans.

From there, the discussion shifts to the trading‑card world, where the duo reacts to the surprising new policy requiring One Piece card game products to be opened upon purchase at local game stores. That leads into a deeper look at the ongoing scalping issues plaguing the One Piece TCG and how scarcity, hype, and opportunism are affecting the community.

Collecting chaos doesn’t stop there. John and Ryan take a closer look at the cost of Pokémon LEGO sets and what’s driving their premium price tags. They wrap up with a breakdown of the GameStop digital game lawsuit.

Capping off the episode for their ongoing theme for January—Agonizingly Long Tutorials Month—is a spotlight on Red Dead Redemption 2. The guys reflect on the game’s famously slow, cinematic onboarding and how it sets the tone for one of the most immersive open‑world experiences ever made.

00:00 Intro 11:48 Why Dungeons and Dragons has been quite in 2025 in terms of new books 23:23 Ryan's Pokémon Emerald Legacy Update 27:26 Pokémon Nostalgia and Gaming Adventures 31:29 One piece card game now requiring to be opened upon purchase for local game stores 39:06 Scalping Issues in the One Piece TCG 45:01 The High Cost of Pokémon LEGO Sets 54:58 GameStop's Digital Game Lawsuit

Find us on TheGameDeflators.com

Twitter - www.twitter.com/GameDeflators Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheGameDeflators Instagram - www.instagram.com/thegamedeflators