Over six months after Palworld's early access launch, its developer reports no official plagiarism complaint from Nintendo. Despite The Pokémon Company's January announcement of an investigation and potential legal action for suspected copyright infringement, Nintendo appears to have taken no further action. Palworld's developers, meanwhile, are preparing for the game's full release later this year.
Palworld, an open-world monster-catching game, features creatures called Pals. Players capture and utilize these Pals in combat, labor, and as mounts. Firearms are also integrated, allowing players and their Pals to defend against hostile factions. Pals can be deployed in battles or assigned base tasks like crafting and cooking, each possessing unique Partner Skills. While similarities to the Pokémon franchise exist in certain mechanics and character designs, Nintendo has seemingly chosen not to pursue legal action.
According to Game File, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe denies receiving any complaints from Nintendo or The Pokémon Company, contradicting the latter's public statement. Mizobe stated, "Nothing at all. Nintendo and the Pokémon Company didn’t say anything to us." He also expressed his fondness for and respect for the Pokémon franchise. However, fan comparisons between the two games persist, intensified by Palworld's recent Sakurajima update.
Pocketpair CEO Rejects Nintendo's Copyright Claims
A January blog post by the Palworld CEO further explained that the game's 100 character designs originated from a newly hired graduate illustrator in 2021. He described her as a recent graduate who had previously faced numerous job rejections. The game, often described as "Pokémon with guns," due to its unique premise, rapidly gained popularity after its release, attracting players seeking an open-world monster-catching experience on platforms beyond Nintendo consoles.
Initial speculation, fueled by social media posts comparing Palworld to the Pokémon franchise, questioned the game's authenticity. Pocketpair has hinted at a PlayStation release, but further console ports remain unannounced.
