The controversy around Palworld is likely heading to court for the first time.
Japanese game company Nintendo, together with The Pokemon Company, is suing PocketPair, the maker of the survival game Palworld. The company alleges infringement of multiple patents in Palworld.
If you don’t know what Palworld is, it’s an open-world game where you can find animal-like creatures called “Pals.” You can battle and capture Pals for combat and base building. Pals may also be assigned to complete certain tasks for players.
While some mechanics may seem unique, the game shared distinct similarities with the popular hit Pokemon. If you’ve played both games, you can definitely recognize Pals that look like Electabuzz, Wooloo, Yamper, and Eevee.
Although the alleged infringement wasn’t detailed, this wasn’t the first encounter between Nintendo and PocketPair. Many players modded Palworld to make it look closer to Pokemon and it prompted the Switch maker to take them down.
On Steam, Palworld currently has a “Very Positive” remark across over 274K reviews. The game has been surrounded by controversy on social media but this is the first time the situation is heading to court.
Nintendo is known for its aggressive stance over anything that resembles one of its products. If a creator didn’t have permission, any Nintendo-inspired creation is likely to get a cease and desist order.
What do you think?
