The Pokémon Company has officially announced its intention to investigate Palworld, a survival game developed by Pocketpair that has gone viral since its release.
The Pokémon Company probes ‘Palworld’ for intellectual property violations
This move comes amid growing concerns over possible infringement of Pokémon’s intellectual property.
Palworld, released on Thursday, 18 January 2024, has quickly become a topic of controversy and intrigue in the gaming community.
Described as a “Pokémon with guns” style game, it features an open-world environment where players can catch and battle monsters, much like the Pokémon series.
However, Palworld‘s darker theme, which includes the ability to sell “pals” into slavery, eat them, and even battle them to the death, sets it apart from the more family-friendly Pokémon universe.
The game has seen remarkable commercial success, selling over 8 million copies in less than six days, surpassing even the most popular AAA titles in terms of sales performance.
Palworld’s success is attributed to its innovative blend of monster collecting, automation, and survival/crafting mechanics, which taps into a modern take on the monster-taming genre.
Despite its popularity, The Pokémon Company’s concern lies in the game’s uncanny resemblance to its own products.
“We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024,” stated The Pokémon Company.
“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 Pokémon.”
Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, previously stated that the game shares more similarities with titles like Ark Survival Evolved than Pokémon.
CEO Takuro Mizobe had earlier mentioned that the game cleared legal reviews and received no action from other companies regarding intellectual property.
However, this recent statement from The Pokémon Company indicates a potential shift in the situation.
Online, gamers have expressed mixed reactions. Some appreciate Palworld for its unique gameplay and fresh approach to the genre, while others have raised allegations of plagiarism.
In particular, comparisons have been drawn between Palworld‘s monster designs and those of Pokémon, prompting a heated debate in the gaming community.
As the investigation unfolds, the future of Palworld remains uncertain. The Pokémon Company’s move to investigate could potentially lead to significant legal and financial implications for Pocketpair, depending on the outcome.