WhenPalworldwas released in January 2024, many gamers noticed close comparisons to games likeArc: Survival EvolvedandBreath Of The Wild. Yet, above all else,Palworldwas undoubtedly a parody of the highest-grossing media franchise of all time,Pokémon, with a cast ofPokémonesc “Pals” for the player to collect.
Earning a reputation as a genuinely engaging title thatrocked Steam charts, its similarities toPokémonmust have sparked interest for Nintendo. Less than a week after the game was released, Nintendo hadconfirmed an investigationwas underway.
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As time passed, we eventually forgot about these claims. Yet it seems Nintendo was taking time to stalk its prey, as they justreleased a statementsaying they’re filing an infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer ofPalworld, in the Tokyo District Court.
To follow up, Pocketpair releasedits own statement, contesting Nintendo’s claims that they had infringed on patent rights with the release of Palworld.
But this leaves us wondering whether these claims are valid and what legal rights Nintendo thinks they have against Pocketpair.
AlthoughPalworldboasts unique gameplay elements like base building and real-time third-person combat, it’s unmistakable that some aspects, such asthe designs for the titular Pals, look like a rip-off version of Pokémon, similar to an off-brand toy you’d see at Dollar Tree.
That said, it’s not as though the developers didn’t do so in good faith, as they themselves say how much theseries inspired them.
ThePokémonadjacent designs became one of the most notable elements; it was hilarious that they stuck these cute creatures in a world of guns and mayhem.
However, these comparisons between the designs of Pals andPokémonare not the complaints Nintendo has raised. Although people have previouslycompared the 3D modelsbetween the two games,the case is around “multiple patent rights,” not a copyright of intellectual property like the design of creatures.
Now, we’re left wondering what patentsPalworldis being sued for;as many have pointed out, Nintendo may not have quite as strong a case regarding patent infringement.
What Is Palworld Being Sued For?
RecentPokémontitles likePokémon Legends: Arceusattempted to have a real-time capture system similar toPalworld, where you capture Pokémon while adventuring in the world without going into turn-based combat. However, the actual combat in Arceus is still turn-based, unlikePalworld, which has real-time battles.
Additionally,Palworldoffers base building, cooperative multiplayer, detailed exploration and boss design, and much more, but it barely uses thePokémonformula.
In their response to Nintendo, Pocketpair stated that they don’t even know what patents they are being accused of violating at this time,so we’re still unsure what exactly is being contested.
The majority of gameplay is very different inPalworld. Forthis reason,business lawyers have statedthatthey don’t believe Nintendo hasgrounds to sue Palworld regarding one of their patents.
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In their statement, Pocketpair reveals plans to fight against Nintendo to “ensure that indie game developers are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas.” Regardless, this startsyet another Nintendo lawsuit, and like many of them, it’s one fans don’t support.
While anyone sensible should believe a lawsuit is warranted when actual boundaries are passed, such as someone stealing what someone else created,most fans are currently unconvinced that Palworld crossed any serious lines.
When you think of it, there already are loads ofPokémon clonesout there, andPalworldhasn’t emulated thePokémonformula or patents in any way greater than the rest of them.
But in the end, it will ultimately be up to the Tokyo District Court to decide whether Pocketpair is in the wrong or if Nintendo has bitten off more than they could chew.
WHERE TO PLAY
Palworld is a survival crafting game with colorful monster collecting elements. Build bases, catch dangerous creatures called Pals, explore dungeons, and group up with friends!
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