Since its early access launch in January 2024, Palworld has attracted over 32 million players across all platforms, including PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Dubbed "Pokémon with guns" before its record-breaking release, the crafting and survival game from developer Pocketpair has quickly gained a massive following.
"Thank you so much!" Pocketpair expressed in a tweet. "As always, your support means the world to us!"
John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's Communications Director and Publishing Manager, added, "We will continue to work hard to make Palworld year 2 even better!"
Launched at $30 on Steam and included in Game Pass on Xbox and PC, Palworld broke sales and concurrent player number records. The game's massive success overwhelmed Pocketpair, with CEO Takuro Mizobe admitting that the developer couldn’t handle the massive profits the game generated. In response, Pocketpair quickly moved to capitalize on the game's popularity, signing a deal with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, aimed at expanding the IP and bringing the game to PS5.
While Pocketpair focuses on updating Palworld, it faces a significant legal challenge from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company over patent infringement. Following Palworld’s launch, comparisons were drawn between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon, leading to accusations of design copying. Instead of pursuing a copyright lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent infringement suit, demanding 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus late payment damages, and seeking an injunction to block Palworld’s release.
In November, Pocketpair confirmed the three Japan-based patents at the center of the lawsuit, which involve capturing Pokémon in a virtual field. Palworld features a similar mechanic, where players use a Pal Sphere to capture monsters, akin to the system in the 2022 Nintendo Switch game Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recently, Pocketpair altered the way players summon Pals, prompting speculation that this change was related to the ongoing lawsuit.
Patent experts view Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s lawsuit against Pocketpair as evidence of the threat posed by Palworld. The outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain, with Pocketpair determined to defend its position in court, stating, "We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings."
Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair has not slowed down, releasing major updates for Palworld and forging collaborations with other major video games, including a Terraria crossover.
