Nintendo is reportedly filing takedown requests against Pokemon mods for Palworld. The move comes shortly after the launch of Palworld into early access, where a Pokemon mod quickly garnered attention for transforming the game’s creatures into Pokemon.
Palworld, often dubbed as ‘Pokemon with guns,’ faced action from Nintendo or The Pokemon Company. YouTuber Toasted reported that Nintendo targeted his video promoting the Palworld mod, resulting in the video being taken offline due to a copyright claim from the company.
The NexusMods community also took precautions by banning Pokemon mods, anticipating Nintendo’s response. According to a Reddit post, NexusMods staff have started removing Pokemon mods for Palworld entirely.
Legal opinions on the situation vary. Lawyer Richard Hoeg acknowledges the mod’s likely infringement on Pokemon’s copyright but notes that it effectively showcases the distinctiveness of Palworld from standard Pokemon games. Meanwhile, Pokemon’s former legal head dismisses Palworld as “the usual ripoff nonsense.”
At the core, Palworld distinguishes itself as a survival game with RPG elements, challenging the ‘Pokemon with guns’ narrative. The ongoing clash raises questions about the intersection of game mods, copyright issues, and the game industry’s evolving landscape.
