Pokémon Happy Meal cards placed loose in McDonald’s toy boxes
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
TheGamer reports The Pokémon Company’s McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion is packaging the collectible cards loose inside the toy box rather than sealed in packs. TheGamer says the promotion begins in Canada on November 3, 2026 and does not hit the United States until November 10, 2026. Videos shared after the Canadian rollout show Happy Meals already appearing in the wild with the unsealed cards visible inside the toy box. TheGamer frames the packaging change as a simple solution that may deter scalpers.
- What happened: TheGamer reports the cards included in The Pokémon Company’s McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion are being placed loose in the box that holds the toy instead of being sealed in packs.
- Why it matters: TheGamer presents the loose-in-box packaging as a simple way that may keep scalpers away from the cards, rather than the earlier sealed-pack format.
- Context: TheGamer reports the promo began in Canada on November 3, 2026 and does not reach the United States until November 10, 2026; videos from the Canadian rollout show Happy Meals already appearing with the unsealed cards.
- What next: It is not confirmed by the evidence whether the loose-in-box packaging will reduce scalping, whether the same packaging will be used in other regions, or whether all Happy Meals in the promotion include the cards.
What changed
TheGamer reports that for The Pokémon Company’s McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion, the collectible cards are being placed loose inside the small box that holds the toy rather than packaged in sealed card packs. Videos from early retail appearances in Canada show the unsealed cards visible inside the toy box.
Availability
- TheGamer reports the promotion began in Canada on November 3, 2026.
- TheGamer reports the promotion does not hit the United States until November 10, 2026.
Before and after
- Before: TheGamer indicates prior iterations used cards sealed in packs.
- After: TheGamer reports the current promotion’s cards are loose in the toy box rather than sealed.
Limits
- TheGamer frames the packaging change as a potential deterrent to scalpers but does not confirm any measurable effect on scalping.
- TheGamer does not confirm whether the same loose-in-box packaging will be used in regions beyond Canada and the United States, or whether every Happy Meal in the promotion contains a card.