Six months after Palworld's early access launch, its developer reports no official plagiarism complaints from Nintendo. Recall that in January, The Pokémon Company announced an investigation into potential copyright infringement by a competitor, hinting at possible legal action. However, Nintendo appears to have taken no further steps, leaving Palworld's developers to focus on the game's full release later this year.
Palworld, an open-world monster-catching game, features creatures called "Pals." Players capture and utilize Pals in combat, labor, and as mounts. Firearms are also integrated, allowing players and their Pals to defend against hostile factions. Pals can be summoned for 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 apparently chosen not to pursue the matter.
According to Game File, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe states he's received no communication from Nintendo or The Pokémon Company, despite the latter's earlier public statement. Mizobe emphasizes his love for and respect for Pokémon, highlighting its influence on his generation. Regardless of legal action, fan comparisons persist, fueled further by Palworld's recent Sakurajima update.
Pocketpair CEO Denies Nintendo Copyright Complaints
A January blog post by the Palworld CEO also revealed that the game's 100 character designs originated from a 2021 graduate hire. The CEO described the illustrator as having faced numerous job rejections before joining the company. Palworld, often described as "Pokémon with guns," gained rapid popularity after its release, fulfilling a long-standing fan desire for an open-world monster-catching game available on multiple platforms, unlike Pokémon's primarily Nintendo console exclusivity.
Initial Palworld trailers sparked online speculation about the game's authenticity due to its resemblance to Pokémon. Pocketpair has suggested a PlayStation release for Palworld, but further console plans remain unannounced.
