Palworld Hits 32 Million Players During Year 1 as Nintendo Pokémon Lawsuit Looms Over the Horizon

Palworld, the crafting and survival game dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has achieved remarkable success since its January 2024 early access launch, boasting over 32 million players across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Developer Pocketpair expressed gratitude for this overwhelming support, promising continued efforts to enhance Palworld in its second year.

The game's launch, priced at $30 on Steam and included in Xbox Game Pass, shattered sales and concurrent player records. This explosive success proved so significant that Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, publicly stated the company was initially overwhelmed by the sheer volume of profits generated. Capitalizing on this momentum, Pocketpair partnered with Sony, establishing Palworld Entertainment to expand the IP and bring the game to PlayStation 5.

However, this triumph is overshadowed by a high-profile patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following Palworld's launch, comparisons to Pokémon, and accusations of design similarities, led to the legal action. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus damages, and an injunction halting Palworld's distribution. The lawsuit centers around three Japanese patents concerning the virtual capture of creatures, a mechanic present in Palworld's Pal Sphere system, reminiscent of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Interestingly, Pocketpair recently altered the Pal summoning mechanic, fueling speculation about its connection to the lawsuit.

Patent experts highlight the lawsuit as evidence of the threat Palworld poses. Pocketpair, however, remains defiant, vowing to contest the claims in court. Despite the legal battle, Pocketpair continues to release major updates for Palworld and has even pursued collaborations with other prominent titles, including a recent crossover with Terraria.