The Pokémon Company has issued an official statement regarding Palworld, expressing its intention to investigate any potential infringement on intellectual property rights related to Pokémon.
The statement is a response to the game's remarkable success and claims that some of Palworld's creatures closely resemble existing Pokémon. Read their statement below.
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.
Palworld developer Pocketpair, in a previous interview, emphasized that their game is more aligned with titles like Ark: Survival Evolved and Valheim than with Pokémon. Despite receiving threats since the game's launch on January 19, Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, asserted that the game underwent legal scrutiny, and no legal action has been taken against the company for infringement.
The Pokémon Company has already taken action against modders replacing Palworld's creatures with Pokémon, and Nexus Mods has refrained from hosting Pokémon-themed mods for Palworld due to concerns about potential legal consequences from Nintendo.
Palworld has garnered praise for its humor, content depth, and challenging gameplay. Despite some flaws and controversies, including allegations of similarities with Pokémon, the game has received positive reviews.
