Nintendo Doubles Down On Pokémon's Palworld Warning
"Palworld" continues to court rave reviews from fans and controversy from detractors, dividing the gaming community like no other title in recent memory. The so-called "Pokémon with guns" survival game from Pocketpair brought in nearly 20 million players in its first couple of weeks of release on Steam and Game Pass, and it shows no signs of slowing down. At this point, it seems like the only thing that could stand in the way of "Palworld" supremacy would be a challenge from one of gaming's titans of industry. If "Palworld" players suddenly felt a chill run down their spines, it could be because the president of Nintendo has finally spoken up about his feelings toward the game.
Pretty much ever since "Palworld" was first announced, skeptics have taken issue with the designs of the game's titular Pals, many of which look like outright clones of beloved Pokémon. These concerns were only amplified when gamers started digging into the history of Pocketpair, discovering that the developer has expressed an interest in using AI for game design in the past. This all coalesced into accusations that Pocketpair had used AI to generate its Pokémon-esque Pals, or had otherwise copied Nintendo and Game Freak's homework a little too closely. Though no concrete evidence has emerged to suggest that Pocketpair did indeed steal The Pokémon Company's designs, a large number of gamers have been bracing themselves for news of a lawsuit for weeks now.
Others have reached out to the rights-holders of the "Pokémon" franchise to find out what, if anything, the gaming giant wants to do about "Palworld." Here's what the president of Nintendo had to say about the matter.
NIntendo boss doesn't mince words about Palworld
After a routine financial briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa fielded questions about the industry and Nintendo's plan for the future. When asked about his feelings regarding "Palworld," Reuters reports (via Google Translate) that the gaming prez was very to-the-point in his response: "We will take appropriate action against those that infringe our intellectual property rights," said Furukawa. This statement appeared to satisfy those in attendance, and the Q&A continued on without further reference to "Palworld" or "Pocketpair."
It's worth noting that this mirrors The Pokémon Company's recent statement very closely. In late January, The Pokémon Company assured fans that it was a well-aware of "Palworld" and the controversy surrounding it, explaining, "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."
In other words, the folks who own "Pokémon" — the franchise that so many people are convinced is being ripped off by "Palworld" — are monitoring the situation. Interestingly enough, neither statement directly mentions "Palworld" by name, even though the intention is unmistakable. This would seem to suggest that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are being very careful not to outright accuse "Palworld" of any wrongdoing. Still, regardless of the fact that neither Furukawa nor The Pokémon Company have made any specific references to current legal moves against Pocketpair, some gamers seem to think that time is running out for "Palworld."
Palworld fans react to Nintendo's stance
"Palworld" fans seem to be pretty split on what this statement might mean for the future of the game. Some "Palworld" players are already feeling gloom-and-doom over the statement from Nintendo's president, urging their fellow players to put in as much time as they can now before the game is shut down. Of course, there's no evidence at this time that points to the game being in that much danger, but fans have gotten used to Nintendo nuking unauthorized uses of its IP.
Some gamers think that Nintendo is just sick of hearing about "Palworld" at this point. One gamer on X summed up Shuntaro Furukawa's statement as such: ""There's no proof that Palworld infringed on our IP. We know this, we already said this. Stop asking."'
Others remain unconvinced that Nintendo is going to pursue a case against "Palworld" and Pocketpair. Many have pointed to the major differences between the two games as proof that "Palworld" stands on its own. One X user remarked, "Yes, players can capture Pals using a sphere, but where 'Palworld' shines is the ability to plant or hunt for food, craft items, or base build. Things that can never be done in 'Pokémon.'" Others have added onto this by pointing out that both Shuntaro Furukawa and The Pokémon Company have promised to sue anyone who infringes on their IP, which means "Palworld" is safe as long as it has not actually plagiarized. There is a fine line between homage and theft, and most "Palworld" diehards seem to feel that Pocketpair is safe in this regard — for now.