Palworld has become a huge success story, but its similarity to Pokémon has sparked discussions. Now the Pokémon Company has spoken out.
This is the situation:
- Palworld launched on Steam and became a massive success overnight.
- The game combines survival aspects with capturing and taming creatures called “Pals” and shooter elements – You can read about how it plays here.
- However, it was the creatures caught in “Pal spheres” that sparked discussions. Some designs look very similar to established Pokémon.
- As a result, criticism arose that Palworld had copied Pokémon.
- From Palworld’s side, they addressed the issue and denied the allegations.
Apart from the original game, images and a video of a mod surfaced, which actually integrated Pokémon instead of the Pals into the game. However, Nintendo acted quickly in this case and initiated a ban.
Apart from the mod, there hadn’t been any official statements from Pokémon regarding Palworld – until now. Because now the Pokémon Company has released an official statement.
What the Pokémon Company says about Palworld
In the statement, Palworld is not mentioned by name, but it is clear that the message is directed at the Steam hit. The Pokémon Company explains that they have received many inquiries regarding this matter and clarifies that they have “not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in this game.”
The Pokémon Company seems to be keeping a close eye on how their creations are handled: “We intend to investigate any actions that infringe upon the intellectual property rights of Pokémon and take appropriate measures,” the statement says.
The English statement of the Pokémon Company in its entirety:
We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.
(via corporate.pokemon.co.jp)
What does this mean for Palworld? That remains to be seen. However, it is clear that the Pokémon Company is monitoring the situation – and topics like the Pokémon mod are likely to be treated particularly critically.
More on the subject: So far, there has been no lawsuit from Nintendo or the Pokémon Company against Palworld. We asked the well-known lawyer for internet and media law, Christian Solmecke, on what basis such a process could be possible. His assessment can be found in this article: Could Nintendo successfully sue the Steam hit Palworld? – We asked a lawyer
