Palword has made waves across the internet with its incredible sales for a cheaply developed and half-complete game, mostly because of its similarity to Pokemon. Now, Nintendo has come out with a formal statement that shows Palworld might be in legal trouble.
Palworld is a game which gamers describe as “Pokmeon with guns,” and according to streamer Gameranx, Palworld adopts a kitchen sink approach, combining casual survival gaming with monster hunting, collection elements, and extensive exploration. Gameranx said that while some aspects seamlessly blend, others feel haphazardly integrated, creating a disjointed experience. Certain game play concepts bear a striking resemblance to those found in other games, leaving a noticeable void where the game’s soul should be, ultimately rendering it somewhat lifeless and lacking in character.
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Several video game experts have been questioning the ethicality and legality of Palworld when it comes to Pokemon and its apparent use of Nintendo assets, however. Last evening, YouTube sensations Lofti Pixel, The Gator Gamer, Xray Girl and others had a roundtable panel discussing whether this constituted fair use or not.
While none are legal experts nor exactly sure where this was headed court wise, the consensus on the stream seemed to be that Palworld ripped off elements of Pokemon to produce a game that doesn’t have a lot of unique value.
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“I just think some of the designs are copied and pasted from Pokemon. It’s kinda a problem in my opinion,” Lofti Pixels said.
Nintendo seems to have a very similar thought on Palworld, finally releasing an official statement on the game in reference to their Pokemon franchise.
“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 Nintendo press release comes across as angry by refusing to reference name of Palworld, understanding that doing so would create yet another Streisand effect for the game. However, the threat is clear. They appear to be taking legal action to defend their Pokemon brand.
The Palworld creators are only in this position because of its huge success. If it had sold in low numbers, it would be doubtful Nintendo would take notice. But to date, the game has sold more than 8 million copies, with internet talk of the controversy of it being too close to Pokemon fueling further sales every day.
As of this writing, Palworld’s producer, Pocket Pair, Inc., has not replied to Nintendo’s statement. Fandom Pulse will be covering the controversy as it unfolds.
What do you think of Palworld? Is it a Pokemon rip-off and in legal trouble from Nintendo? Leave a comment and let us know.
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I don’t think this is an actual legal threat. If Nintendo really wanted to go after these guys, they had years to do so. Hell, they come down on fangames like a ton of bricks, and those are 100% non-commercial.