The survival game "Palworld" already caused discussions at the time of its release. Now a legal dispute with Nintendo is forcing the developers to make specific changes to the game.
The survival adventure “Palworld”, which was released in early 2024, is once again at the center of legal and creative controversy. The legal dispute between Nintendo and the creators of Palworld is more than just a dispute over copyrights – it raises the fundamental question of how much “inspiration” is allowed in game development.
Is The Game A “Pokemon With Guns”?
Early on, Palworld was accused of borrowing heavily from Nintendo's popular series in terms of game mechanics and creature design. Developed by Japanese studio Pocketpair, the game was dubbed "Pokémon with weapons" at the time of its release.
Although the developers denied all accusations of being a direct copy, the game was marketed in the media by news websites using this comparison, sometimes unintentionally. The label stuck to the game and contributed to the hype, but also caused legal problems for the developers.
In an interview with Automaton Media, Takuro Mizobe, CEO of Pocketpair, commented on the similarities between Palworld and the Pokémon series:
"Although we refer to Pokemon as a great predecessor, if you play Palworld, you will see that its image is completely different from Pokémon. In fact, I think the mechanics are closer to Ark: Survival Evolved."
Nintendo Steps In – Dispute Over Game Mechanics
On September 19, 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against the Japanese development studio Pocketpair with the Tokyo District Court.
Nintendo accused Pocketpair of infringing on patents – including game mechanics reminiscent of features in Pokémon games such as "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Pokémon Violet" and "Legends: Arceus". Specifically, mechanics such as riding and gliding on creatures were alleged to be similar to gliding on Koraidon/Miraidon, Braviary or Charizard.
In an earlier update, Pocketpair was forced to remove a key feature after Nintendo pointed out patent infringement. In response to the lawsuit, Pocketpair removed the ability to summon "Pals" by throwing "Pal Spheres" in patch v0.3.11 on November 30, 2024. The Pal Spheres, which could be used to catch and release creatures, were allegedly too reminiscent of Pokéballs. Instead of the throwing mechanic, Pals now appear right next to the player.
Flight Ban Issued: Nintendo Won't Let Palworld Take Off
Now comes the next restriction: As a result of the ongoing legal dispute, the ability to glide using Pals must be removed and replaced with a standard glider. Although effects generated by Pals during gliding remain intact, controllable movement through the air is no longer possible.
Pocketpair explained that the changes were unfortunately necessary to avoid legal consequences. At the same time, the developers thanked the community for their continued support during these difficult times and promised new features in the future of the game.
It remains to be seen what kind of consequences this case will have on the creative freedom and the future of other games as well.