Palworld Surges to 32M Players Amid Nintendo's Legal Threat

Since its early access launch in January 2024, Palworld has attracted over 32 million players across all platforms, including PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Dubbed "Pokémon with guns" prior to its release, the crafting and survival game from developer Pocketpair has become a massive hit.

"Thank you so much!" Pocketpair expressed in a tweet. "As always, your support means the world to us!"

John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's Communications Director and Publishing Manager, added, "We will continue to work hard to make Palworld year 2 even better!"

Initially launched on Steam for $30 and included in Game Pass for Xbox and PC, Palworld broke sales and concurrent player number records. The game's launch was so monumental that Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, admitted the company struggled to handle the immense profits. In response, Pocketpair quickly signed a deal with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, aimed at expanding the game's intellectual property and bringing it to PS5.

As Pocketpair focuses on enhancing Palworld, the developer faces a high-profile patent lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following Palworld's launch, comparisons between Palworld's Pals and Pokémon led to accusations of design copying. Instead of a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent lawsuit, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus damages for late payments, and an injunction to block Palworld's release.

In November, Pocketpair acknowledged the three Japan-based patents they are being sued over, which focus on the mechanic of capturing creatures in a virtual field. Palworld features a similar mechanic with players using a Pal Sphere to capture monsters, reminiscent of the system in the 2022 Nintendo Switch exclusive, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recent changes to how players summon Pals in Palworld have led to speculation that these adjustments relate to the ongoing patent lawsuit.

Patent experts view Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit as a testament to the competitive threat posed by Palworld. As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes are on the outcome, with Pocketpair firmly stating their intention to defend their position in court: "We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings."

Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair remains committed to Palworld, releasing significant updates and even engaging in collaborations with other major video games, such as a crossover with Terraria.