Summary
A week after the release ofPalworldin early access, The Pokemon Company issued an official statement. There has been a lot of controversy regarding the similarities betweenPokemonand Pocketpair’s survival game, asPalworldfeatures various creatures that look just like The Pokemon Company’s pocket monsters.
The release ofPalworldin early access on January 19 took the gaming world by storm. In the first six days after launch, the game sold over 8 million units and reached 2 million concurrent players on Steam.Palworldbecame one of the most popular Steam games of all time. Players quickly dubbedPalworldas “Pokemonwith guns,” as Pocketpair’s game features various monsters to capture that can equip weapons. Besides collecting these monsters, known as Pals, the goal ofPalworldis to uncover the secrets of the Palpagos Islands and build a base to craft tools and cook food to avoid dying from hunger.
As controversies rise regarding the similarities between the creatures fromPalworldandPokemon,The Pokemon Company issued an official statementsaying it “intend[s] to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to thePokemon." While The Pokemon Company didn’t addressPalworldby name, the statement mentions “another company’s game released in January 2024,” leaving little doubt regarding which game it intends to investigate.
The Pokemon Company’s Statement About Palworld
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.
The statement also mentions how The Pokemon Company never granted any permission to usePokemonassets in any other game. Prior to this statement, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe stated that thePalworldteam made sure to avoid any copyright infringement withPokemonor other popular gaming franchises, while The Pokemon Company’s former chief legal officer has recentlydescribedPalworldas “ripoff nonsense.”
Players found many similarities betweenPalworldandPokemon, besides the fact that both games feature a large collection of monsters to capture and battle. A fan of both games teased aPokemonmod inPalworldfeaturing Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, before Nintendo responded to their trailer with a DMCA takedown notice. This doesn’t prevent fans from comparing the two games, with some wondering why Nintendo never created a more mature version ofPokemonin an open-world survival game with base-building mechanics and a multiplayer system.
Following the massive success ofPalworld, Pocketpair teased its roadmap for the game.FuturePalworldupdateswill bring new features, such as PvP between players and their Pals, raid bosses, as well as new islands to explore and Pals to capture. Before releasing these new features, Pocketpair stated it would prioritize fixing the numerous issues hinderingPalworldto improve the overall player experience.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
