Palworld Reaches 32M Players Amid Nintendo Pokémon Lawsuit Threat

Since its early access launch in January 2024, Palworld has attracted over 32 million players across all platforms, including PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Dubbed "Pokémon with guns" before its record-breaking release, the crafting and survival game has garnered significant attention and praise from the gaming community.

"Thank you so much!" Pocketpair expressed in a tweet, acknowledging the overwhelming support from players. "As always, your support means the world to us!"

John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's Communications Director and Publishing Manager, added, "We will continue to work hard to make Palworld year 2 even better!"

Palworld was launched on Steam for $30 and was also available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC from day one. The game broke sales and concurrent player number records upon release. Takuro Mizobe, the head of Pocketpair, admitted that the game's launch was so successful that the company struggled to manage the massive profits it generated. To capitalize on this success, Pocketpair quickly signed a deal with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, aimed at expanding the IP and bringing the game to PS5.

While Pocketpair continues to enhance Palworld with updates, the developer faces a significant legal challenge. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a high-profile patent lawsuit against Pocketpair, claiming infringement due to similarities between Palworld's Pals and Pokémon. Instead of pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit, the companies opted for a patent route, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus late payment damages and an injunction to block Palworld's release.

In November, Pocketpair confirmed it is being sued over three Japan-based patents related to catching Pokémon in a virtual field. Palworld features a similar mechanic where players use a Pal Sphere to capture monsters, reminiscent of the system in the 2022 Nintendo Switch exclusive Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recently, Pocketpair modified how players summon Pals, leading to speculation that the change was a response to the ongoing patent lawsuit.

Patent experts view Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit as evidence of the perceived threat posed by Palworld. The gaming community is closely watching the legal battle, which Pocketpair has vowed to contest in court, stating, "We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings."

Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair remains focused on enhancing Palworld, releasing major updates and even collaborating with other popular video games, such as a crossover with Terraria.