Palworld, the action-adventure survival game by Japanese developer Pocket Pair, has seen massive global success so far with over 7 million copies sold in only 5 days. It has been directly compared to Pokémon as a creature-collecting game, and its character design was questioned by the gaming community in terms of its originality.
The Pokémon Company has issued an official statement regarding use of its intellectual property and assets in other games in response to the community uproar of Palworld. While not directly referencing Palworld, "another company’s game released in January 2024" implies that they are indeed aware of it.
The official statement is below:
Inquiries Regarding Other Companies’ Games
We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. 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 the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.
The Pokémon Company
The Pokémon Company
What Does this Mean for Palworld?
Having said that, it does not mean anything as of yet to the actual game - Palworld should be in the clear as long as they haven't actually breached the law. This should be in direct reference to the paid Pokémon mod in Palword - which was promptly shut down and facing legal action:
We'll keep an eye out for further developments as Palworld continues to take the gaming community by storm!
