Palworld Hits 32 Million Players During Year 1 as Nintendo Pokémon Lawsuit Looms Over the Horizon

Palworld, the crafting and survival game dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has surpassed 32 million players across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 since its January 2024 early access launch. Developer Pocketpair expressed gratitude for this milestone, promising continued development to enhance Palworld's second year. The game's initial success, launching on Steam for $30 and simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass, was so significant that Pocketpair reportedly struggled to manage the resulting profits. This led to a strategic partnership with Sony, creating Palworld Entertainment to expand the IP and bring the game to PlayStation 5.

However, Palworld's remarkable journey is shadowed by a high-profile patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following the game's launch, comparisons to Pokémon sparked accusations of design similarities. Instead of a copyright infringement suit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company pursued a patent infringement claim, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus damages and an injunction. Pocketpair confirmed the three Japanese patents at issue, which relate to capturing creatures in a virtual field—a mechanic present in Palworld's Pal Sphere system, echoing the style of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Interestingly, Pocketpair recently adjusted the Pal summoning mechanic, fueling speculation about its connection to the lawsuit.

Patent experts highlight the lawsuit as evidence of the threat Palworld poses. While the outcome remains uncertain, Pocketpair has vowed to contest the case, asserting its position through legal proceedings. Despite this legal battle, Pocketpair continues to release major updates for Palworld and has even collaborated with other prominent titles, such as Terraria.