Pocketpair to Patch Palworld Amid Nintendo and Pokémon Lawsuit

In a recent statement, Palworld developer Pocketpair has revealed that recent patches to their game were necessitated by an ongoing patent lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The controversy arose after Palworld's explosive launch in early 2024 on Steam and Xbox Game Pass, where it not only set sales records but also shattered concurrent player numbers. The game's success led to the formation of Palworld Entertainment with Sony, aimed at expanding the Palworld intellectual property, culminating in a release on PS5.

Following its massive launch, Palworld faced allegations of copying Pokémon designs, which prompted Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to sue Pocketpair over three Japan-based patents concerning the mechanic of capturing creatures in a virtual field. Palworld features a similar mechanic where players capture creatures called Pals using Pal Spheres, drawing inevitable comparisons to Pokémon's capture system seen in games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

In response to the legal pressure, Pocketpair implemented significant changes in Patch v0.3.11 released in November 2024. This patch altered the summoning mechanism from throwing Pal Spheres to a static summon next to the player, alongside other gameplay modifications. These changes were confirmed to be a direct result of the lawsuit, with Pocketpair stating that failure to adjust could have led to a worse gameplay experience for players.

Further adjustments came with Patch v0.5.5, which shifted the gliding mechanic from being Pal-assisted to requiring a glider in the player's inventory, although Pals still provide passive gliding buffs. Pocketpair described these alterations as "compromises" forced upon them to prevent an injunction that could halt Palworld's development and sales.

Despite these changes, Pocketpair remains committed to challenging the validity of the patents in question. The developer expressed disappointment over the necessary adjustments and apologized for any disruptions caused to their fans. They emphasized their dedication to continuing the development of Palworld and providing new content to their community.

At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in March, John “Bucky” Buckley, communications director and publishing manager for Pocketpair, discussed the studio's challenges, including the lawsuit, which he described as unexpected and shocking to the team.