Nintendo has addressed the existance of Palworld after many users have shared the similarities between the two. It may have only been a matter of time. Palworld, a game that debuted to some as “Pokemon with guns,” has become quite the center of attention recently. Previously, the number of players was more around one million sales in eight hours. Now, it’s more than surpassed that within the matter of less than a week.
Regardless, the copious amount of “similarities” drawn by many on social media between the game and Pokemon itself has led to some nasty controversy being stirred up among both communities, leading to discourse between supporters of each franchise.
Some are sure to be “on the fence” for this one, while others… not so much. The official statement that follows directly from Nintendo’s website, though, leaves a nasty impression of what might be the future of the newest and upcoming digital “successor” of the Pokemon series.
The English translation reads as follows:
“We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.”
Pocketpair, Inc., the Japanese developer of the hit-series Palworld begs to differ on the notion made by Nintendo. In their official blog’s translation detailing information like what the development process would have been towards the game’s release itself, they state that the game is “definitely new and innovative” and holds a “novelty that is about as different from BOTW and Genshin [Impact]”.
Other than the official statement by Nintendo, recent action has been made against a modder who sought to create a Pokemon mod within the game of Palworld itself. This, unfortunately, quickly backfired for the modder, who was hit with a near-immediate copyright strike from Nintendo and has since released a dramatic statement concerning the affairs.
It does remain a possibility that Nintendo could choose to pursue legal action against Pocketpair, but since the dev seems so confident that the similarities in the games aren’t enough for a lawsuit, it appears that it’s more than willing to take the risk and continue working on Palworld for now. Only time will tell if there are any actual copyright issues that Nintendo will actually fight, but currently, the developers certainly don’t seem too worried about it.
More Smash Jump: See where it all started in the official reveal trailer for Palworld, read about what’s happening soon to Nintendo’s 3DS and Wii U online services, or take a peek at this new hero joining the roster of MMORPG Vindictus.
