Palworld, the crafting and survival game dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has surpassed 32 million players across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 since its January 2024 early access launch. Developer Pocketpair expressed gratitude for the overwhelming player support, vowing to enhance Palworld in its second year.
The game's success, launched at $30 on Steam and simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass, was so significant that Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, stated the company struggled to manage the resulting revenue. This success led to a partnership with Sony, establishing Palworld Entertainment to expand the IP and bring the game to PS5.
However, a high-stakes patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company casts a shadow over Palworld's triumph. Following the game's launch, comparisons to Pokémon sparked accusations of design plagiarism. Instead of a copyright claim, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each in damages, plus late payment penalties, and an injunction halting Palworld's distribution.
Pocketpair acknowledged the three Japanese patents in question, which center on the mechanic of capturing creatures in a virtual environment. Palworld's Pal Sphere capture system bears resemblance to Pokémon Legends: Arceus's capture mechanic. Interestingly, Pocketpair recently altered the Pal summoning process, prompting speculation regarding the lawsuit's influence.
Patent law experts view the lawsuit as a testament to the threat Palworld poses. The outcome, whether through settlement or court decision, remains uncertain, though Pocketpair has pledged to vigorously defend its position. Despite the legal battle, Pocketpair continues to update Palworld and collaborate with other major game franchises, including a recent Terraria crossover.
