Palworld, often referred to by fans as “Pokémon with guns,” is facing legal challenges as Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair, the game’s developer, in Tokyo. The lawsuit claims that Palworld “infringes multiple patent rights.”
The legal action was somewhat anticipated due to similarities in gameplay mechanics. In Palworld, players capture creatures by weakening them and trapping them, reminiscent of Pokémon’s mechanics involving Poké Balls. Observers have noted design resemblances between the creatures in Palworld and Pokémon. Additionally, there have been fan-created mods that explicitly include actual Pokémon, further straining relations with Nintendo.
Interestingly, the lawsuit centers around alleged patent infringements rather than copyright issues, suggesting that it may focus more on gameplay mechanics than on creature appearances.
Since its launch in January, Palworld has been a commercial success, selling over 12 million copies within its first month and achieving the status of Microsoft’s largest third-party Game Pass release.
In response to the lawsuit, Pocketpair stated that it was “unaware of the specific patents [it is] accused of infringing upon,” but has pledged to investigate the matter. The company emphasized its commitment to game improvement and released a patch with bug fixes earlier this week. Pocketpair expressed regret about having to divert resources towards legal issues instead of game development, but asserted its dedication to fans and support for indie developers.
Support for Palworld has been vocal among fans online, with some criticizing Nintendo’s approach. However, others have pointed out Nintendo’s strong track record in legal matters, particularly in Japan.
Pocketpair’s CEO, Takuro Mizobe, has previously denied any intention to infringe on other companies’ intellectual property. In their statement, Nintendo reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its intellectual property rights, highlighting the company’s history of taking legal action to safeguard its brand. Many observers are surprised that it took this legal confrontation so long to materialize.