Nintendo is taking legal action against Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular monster-taming game Palworld. The gaming giant has filed a lawsuit claiming that Palworld infringes on several of its patents.
Nintendo’s statement highlights its commitment to protecting its intellectual property. “The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the defendants and compensation for damages,” Nintendo said. “To safeguard the valuable intellectual property we’ve developed over many years, we will continue to enforce our rights against any infringements.”
The lawsuit comes nearly eight months after Palworld’s successful launch in January. The game sold over 5 million copies and achieved impressive Twitch statistics, including an average viewership of 147,264 and 58.3 million hours watched.
Despite its success, Palworld quickly drew comparisons to Pokémon, particularly due to the similarities between its “Pals” and Pokémon creatures.
Many expected Nintendo to act sooner, but the delay led some to believe that Palworld might escape legal trouble.
Earlier this year, Pocketpair’s CEO Takuro Mizobe attempted to preempt potential legal issues by stating the company had “no intention of infringing upon the intellectual property of other companies.”
However, shortly after, The Pokémon Company announced it would investigate and take appropriate measures against any potential intellectual property violations.
The recent lawsuit by Nintendo is not surprising given its history of legal actions to protect its intellectual property. Nintendo has previously sued Blockbuster for copyright infringement over game manuals and has issued numerous cease-and-desist orders against fan-made games.
The company is also known for its aggressive stance against emulation sites offering Nintendo ROMs.
Although Palworld’s gameplay includes combat, exploration, and base-building, which set it apart from Pokémon games, the visual and thematic similarities have clearly raised concerns.
Nintendo’s decision to sue now, rather than during the game’s peak popularity, might be strategic.
With Palworld’s daily player count dropping from over 2 million at launch to between 15,000 and 30,000, Nintendo might be aiming to avoid a backlash from a large fan base.
