Palworld Excluded from Japan, Nintendo Lawsuit Implicated

Palworld, showcased at PlayStation's September 2024 State of Play event, is now available on PlayStation consoles, following its Xbox and PC releases. However, a significant exception exists: the PS5 launch has been indefinitely delayed in Japan. This delay is strongly linked to ongoing legal action involving Nintendo.

Palworld's PlayStation 5 Debut: A Global Launch with a Notable Absence

Palworld's PS5 Arrival Announced at State of Play

As revealed during the September 2024 PlayStation State of Play, Palworld made its PS5 debut. Sony's promotional trailer even featured a Palworld character sporting gear reminiscent of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West.

Despite this global launch, Japanese PlayStation gamers are currently unable to access the game. The reason? A patent infringement lawsuit filed by Nintendo and Pokémon against Pocketpair, Palworld's developer.

The Uncertain Future of Palworld's PS5 Japan Release

Following Sony's announcement, Palworld's Japanese Twitter (X) account issued a statement: The PS5 version launched in 68 countries and regions, but a Japanese release date remains undetermined. The team apologized for the delay, promising to deliver the game to all PS5 users as soon as possible.

While Pocketpair hasn't explicitly stated the cause of the delay, the ongoing legal battle in Japan is widely considered the primary factor. Nintendo's recent announcement of a Tokyo court case seeking injunctions and damages against Palworld further fuels this speculation. A granted injunction could potentially halt Palworld's operations entirely, leading to the game's removal from the market.