In early 2024, the survival game “Palworld” has found itself at the heart of both legal and creative debates. The ongoing legal battle between Nintendo and Palworld’s creators isn’t just a fight over copyrights; it delves into the core question of how much influence or inspiration is acceptable in video game creation.
Is The Game A “Pokemon With Guns”?
Initially, Palworld faced allegations of heavily drawing inspiration from Nintendo’s renowned series, specifically in terms of gameplay dynamics and monster design. Originally known as “Pokémon with weapons,” this game was created by Japanese studio Pocketpair upon its launch.
As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but notice the persistent comparisons drawn between this new game and an established title in the media. While the developers vehemently deny any direct copying, these comparisons have become somewhat of a label, fueling hype yet stirring up legal issues for them simultaneously.
As a devoted admirer, I found myself struck by the intriguing comparisons made by Takuro Mizobe, the visionary CEO of Pocketpair, during his interview with Automaton Media. He delved into the striking resemblances he sees between our beloved game Palworld and the iconic Pokémon series.
“Although we refer to Pokemon as a great predecessor, if you play Palworld, you will see that its image is completely different from Pokémon. In fact, I think the mechanics are closer to Ark: Survival Evolved.”
Nintendo Steps In – Dispute Over Game Mechanics
On September 19, 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company took legal action against Pocketpair at the Tokyo District Court.
Nintendo claimed that Pocketpair violated their patents by incorporating gameplay elements akin to those found in Pokémon games like “Pokémon Scarlet”, “Pokémon Violet” and “Legends: Arceus”. For instance, they alleged that the ability to ride and soar on creatures mimics the gliding function used with Koraidon/Miraidon, Braviary or Charizard in these games.
Previously, Nintendo identified a feature in Pocketpair as potentially infringing on their patents, leading to its removal. As a result of the legal action, the version 0.3.11 update on November 30, 2024, took away the functionality that allowed players to summon characters by tossing magical orbs called Pal Spheres. These orbs were similar to Pokéballs and were used for capturing and releasing creatures. Now, instead of summoning them through a throwing motion, Pals appear directly beside the player.
Flight Ban Issued: Nintendo Won’t Let Palworld Take Off
In light of the ongoing legal issues, I must bid farewell to my beloved Pals for now, as they will be replaced with a standard glider. While the captivating effects produced by Pals during flight remain unchanged, I’ll no longer have control over my movement through the air using them.
Pocketpair clarified that regrettably, the modifications were essential to sidestep potential legal issues. Simultaneously, they expressed gratitude towards the community for their unwavering backing throughout these challenging periods and vowed to introduce fresh game elements in the future.
It’s yet unclear how this case might influence the creative liberties and the development trajectory of similar games in the future.
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2025-05-13 19:54