Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have officially filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, for patent infringement. The legal action was initiated on September 18, 2024, in the Tokyo District Court. This lawsuit seeks to halt further infringement and demands compensation for damages caused by the similarities between Palworld and the Pokémon franchise. The controversy stems from the creature-collecting mechanics and design elements in Palworld, which many have compared to Pokémon, particularly due to the game’s use of firearms alongside monster battles.

Despite the game’s success since its early access release in January 2024, selling millions of copies, criticism has mounted regarding its resemblance to Pokémon. This has led to a long-anticipated legal battle as both Nintendo and The Pokémon Company assert that Palworld violates key patents related to Pokémon’s game mechanics and design​.

The outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent for intellectual property protection in the gaming industry, especially in cases where new games draw inspiration from existing franchises.

Sources: Geek Culture, Bounding Into Comics, & PCgamer.