Palworld Reaches 32M Players Amid Nintendo's Legal Threats

Palworld has achieved a remarkable milestone, with over 32 million players across all platforms since its early access launch in January 2024. The game, developed by Pocketpair and often referred to as “Pokémon with guns,” has seen success on PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5.

Pocketpair expressed their gratitude on social media, stating, “Thank you so much! As always, your support means the world to us!” John 'Bucky' Buckley, the Communications Director and Publishing Manager at Pocketpair, added, “We will continue to work hard to make Palworld year 2 even better!”

Initially launched on Steam for $30 and included in Game Pass for Xbox and PC, Palworld shattered sales and concurrent player records. The overwhelming success led to Pocketpair's founder, Takuro Mizobe, admitting that the company struggled to manage the massive profits generated by the game. In response, Pocketpair quickly moved to expand the IP by signing a deal with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, which focuses on further developing the franchise and bringing the game to PS5.

Amidst the ongoing development and updates for Palworld, the company faces a significant legal challenge. A high-profile patent lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company looms over Pocketpair. The lawsuit stems from comparisons between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon, with accusations of design similarities. Instead of pursuing a copyright infringement claim, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent lawsuit, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus late payment damages, and an injunction to block Palworld's release.

Pocketpair confirmed in November that they are being sued over three Japan-based patents related to catching Pokémon in a virtual field. Palworld features a similar mechanic where players use a Pal Sphere to capture monsters, akin to the system in the 2022 Nintendo Switch game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recently, Pocketpair modified how players summon Pals, a change speculated to be linked to the ongoing patent lawsuit.

Legal experts have highlighted Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s lawsuit as a sign of the perceived threat posed by Palworld. The outcome of this legal battle is eagerly anticipated, with Pocketpair firmly stating, “We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings.”

Despite these legal challenges, Pocketpair remains focused on enhancing Palworld, releasing major updates and forging collaborations with other popular games, including a crossover with Terraria.