Monster-Taming Palworld Reaches 32M Players Amidst Pokémon Legal Shadow

Palworld, the crafting and survival game dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has achieved remarkable success, attracting over 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, promising continued development to enhance Palworld's second year.

The game's initial launch was a phenomenal success, breaking sales and concurrent player records. This success led to a significant financial windfall, which Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, described as overwhelming. Capitalizing on this momentum, Pocketpair partnered with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, a new venture focused on expanding the Palworld intellectual property and its presence on the PS5.

However, this success is overshadowed by a high-stakes patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following Palworld's launch, comparisons to Pokémon were inevitable, leading to accusations of design similarities. Instead of pursuing copyright infringement, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent lawsuit, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each in damages, plus late payment penalties, and an injunction halting Palworld's distribution.

In November, Pocketpair acknowledged the three Japanese patents at the heart of the lawsuit, which center around the mechanic of capturing creatures in a virtual field. Palworld's Pal Sphere capture mechanic bears resemblance to the system in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Interestingly, Pocketpair recently altered the Pal summoning mechanic, sparking speculation about its connection to the lawsuit.

Patent law experts view the lawsuit as a testament to the perceived threat Palworld poses. The outcome of the legal battle remains uncertain, with Pocketpair vowing to vigorously defend its position in court. Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair continues to release major updates for Palworld and has even undertaken collaborations with other prominent video game franchises, including Terraria.