Palworld, often referred to by fans as “Pokémon with guns,” is facing legal challenges as Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced on Thursday that they have initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in Tokyo against Pocketpair, the developer of the game. The lawsuit alleges that Palworld infringes on several patent rights.
The legal action comes as no surprise to many, as the gameplay in Palworld includes capturing creatures by weakening them and trapping them in Pal Spheres, which bears a resemblance to the mechanics of Poké Balls in the Pokémon franchise. Observers have noted various design similarities between Pals and Pokémon, and some fans have even created mods that incorporate actual Pokémon, drawing further criticism from Nintendo.
Interestingly, Nintendo’s claim focuses on patent violations instead of copyright issues, suggesting that the lawsuit may center more on game mechanics than the design of the creatures themselves.
Launched in January, Palworld quickly became popular, selling over 12 million copies within its first month and marking Microsoft’s most successful third-party Game Pass release to date.
In response to the lawsuit, Pocketpair issued a statement indicating that it was “unaware of the specific patents [it is] accused of infringing upon” and committed to looking into the allegations. The company plans to continue enhancing the game, having already released a patch containing bug fixes recently. They expressed disappointment over the need to divert resources towards this legal matter instead of game development, emphasizing their commitment to their fans and to supporting the independence of game developers.
Fans have taken to social media to express their views on the lawsuit. Comments vary, with some criticizing larger companies for their legal actions against smaller ones and advocating for healthy competition in the gaming industry. Others have expressed support for Nintendo, noting its history of successfully defending its intellectual property.
In past statements, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe has defended the company against infringement accusations, asserting that they have no intention of violating the intellectual property rights of other companies.
Nintendo, however, stands firm in its position, stating that it will take all necessary measures to protect its intellectual property rights, which it has developed over many years. The company’s proactive approach to legal matters is well-known, and experts have suggested that the timing of this lawsuit is not surprising given Nintendo’s history.