Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the Japanese developer behind the game Palworld, claiming it infringes on patents related to the Pokémon franchise. Known by many players as “Pokémon with guns,” Palworld has drawn comparisons to Pokémon due to its gameplay mechanics and character designs.
The lawsuit, filed in Tokyo District Court, seeks an injunction to stop the alleged infringement and demands compensation for damages. Nintendo’s statement emphasized its commitment to protecting its intellectual property, saying it will continue to take legal action against any violations.
Pocketpair responded to the lawsuit, stating they were unaware of the specific patents they were accused of violating and had not been provided details. The company plans to begin legal proceedings to address the claims.
Palworld’s gameplay involves capturing creatures using a “Palsphere” after weakening them in battle, similar to Pokémon’s Pokéball mechanic. Some of the creatures in the game also bear visual resemblances to popular Pokémon characters, such as Sparkit, which many players say resembles Pikachu.
This isn’t the first time a smaller game has faced legal challenges for drawing too closely from a well-known franchise. Despite the controversy, Palworld has seen commercial success, selling 7 million copies within five days of its release, generating approximately $189 million USD on the Steam platform.
Pocketpair expressed disappointment over the lawsuit, apologizing to fans and noting that it would shift focus away from game development to address the legal matter. The game’s success and its polarizing comparisons to Pokémon continue to fuel discussions around intellectual property in gaming.
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