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

Palworld, the crafting and survival game described as "Pokémon with guns," has achieved remarkable success since its January 2024 early access launch, boasting over 32 million players across PC (Steam), Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Developer Pocketpair expressed gratitude for this overwhelming support, promising continued efforts to enhance Palworld's Year 2 experience. The game's initial launch, priced at $30 on Steam and included in Xbox Game Pass, shattered sales and concurrent player records, leading to such significant profits that Pocketpair initially struggled to manage them. Capitalizing on this success, Pocketpair partnered with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, dedicated to expanding the IP and bringing the game to new platforms like the PS5.

However, Palworld's journey isn't without its challenges. A high-profile patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company casts a shadow over its continued success. Following Palworld's launch, comparisons to Pokémon arose, leading to accusations of design similarities. Instead of a copyright infringement suit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company pursued a patent infringement claim, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each in damages, plus late payment penalties and an injunction halting Palworld's distribution. Pocketpair confirmed the three Japanese patents at issue, which center around the mechanic of capturing creatures in a virtual field—a mechanic present in Palworld's Pal Sphere capture system, echoing the style of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Interestingly, Pocketpair recently altered the Pal summoning mechanic, sparking speculation about its connection to the lawsuit. Patent experts highlight the lawsuit as a testament to the perceived threat Palworld poses. Despite the legal battle, Pocketpair remains resolute in its defense, vowing to contest the claims in court and continues to release major updates and collaborate with other major gaming franchises, such as a recent crossover with Terraria.