Summary
Over six months after the early access release ofPalworld, the game’s developer says Nintendo has not filed an official complaint for plagiarism. Back in January, The Pokemon Company announced it would be investigating and possibly taking legal action against a competitor’s game on the grounds of suspected copyright infringement. Nintendo seems to have brushed that statement aside for now, as nothing seems to have come from the complaints. Meanwhile,Palworlddevslook ahead to the game’s full release later this year.
Palworldis a monster-taming game set in an open world inhabited by creatures known as Pals. Players can battle against these Pals to capture them, after which they can be used in combat, as manual labor, or as mounts. The game also involves the use of firearms, which can be obtained and given to Pals as a method of self-defense against hostile factions.Pals can either be summoned to battleor stationed at a base to perform tasks such as crafting and cooking. Each Pal has a unique Partner Skill, which can be utilized in different scenarios. Certain mechanics and character designs found inPalworldare similar to those found in thePokemonseries of games, but Nintendo may have decided to turn the other way.
According toGame File, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe claims that he has not received any complaints from Nintendo or The Pokemon Company, despite the latter’s public statement giving a different impression. “Nothing at all,” Mizobe said. “Nintendo and the Pokemon Company didn’t say anything to us. Of course I love Pokemon and respect it. I grew up with it, in my generation.” Even if legal action isn’t taken, fans are relentless in drawing comparisons between the two titles.Palworld’s latest Sakurajima updatehas only added fuel to the fire concerning the “Pokemon clone” allegations.
Pocketpair CEO Denies Receiving Complaints From Nintendo Regarding Copyright Claims
In ablog postalso published in January, thePalworldCEO even claimed that the game’s 100 character concepts were conceived by a graduate student who was hired in 2021 following a hiring spree for new illustrators. “She was a new graduate and had applied to nearly 100 companies, but failed them all,” he said. “And she is now drawing most of the characters inPalworld.” Given its outlandish and comical premise,Palworldhas been dubbed “Pokemonwith guns,” and theindie title skyrocketed in popularity overnightfollowing its release. Fans had been begging for a good open-world monster-catching game for years, especially one available on more platforms than strictly Nintendo consoles.
When the trailer forPalworldwas released, some social media posts led to speculation that the game was fake, possibly due to the title’s striking similarities with thePokemonfranchise.Pocketpair has hinted atPalworldcoming to PlayStation soon, but there’s no word on whether the game will be coming to other consoles.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
