Why Palworld Fans Are Afraid To Buy It On PS5

"Palworld" has lost a good chunk of its playerbase when compared to the peak it hit shortly after it debuted, but developer Pocketpair still has ambitious plans for the future. In addition to adding more content to the game, the devs have been hard at work preparing "Palworld" for a new audience. This week, the game officially launched on the PS5. Many PlayStation fans are thrilled to finally get their hands on one of 2024's biggest gaming surprises, but not everyone is able to jump into the fun. "Palworld" currently isn't available on PS5 in Japan, and no official release date has been announced yet. Pocketpair hasn't given a specific reason for the delay, but it likely has something to do with Nintendo The Pokémon Company's lawsuit against the company. Most people suspected that Nintendo would eventually come after the "Pokémon"-like, but the lawsuit actually centers on some of Nintendo's tech patents, rather than its IP copyright.

In response to the lawsuit, Pocketpair released an official statement: "Our goal as a company has always been to create fun games. We will continue to pursue this goal because we know that our games bring joy to millions of gamers around the world." Releasing "Palworld" on PS5 shows just how serious Pocketpair is about pushing forward in spite of the lawsuit, but the continue litigation and the absence of a Japanese release for the game has players around the world a little worried.

Some fans think the timing of Nintendo's "Palworld" lawsuit is a little suspicious, and that the company might just be trying to distract people from recent Switch 2 leaks. Even if that theory turns out to be true (and its a longshot), the lawsuit is still going to be expensive for Pocketpair, not to mention disruptive for "Palworld" and its fans. The legal trouble might have already prevented "Palworld" from being released on PS5 in Japan, and because of that, other PS5 players are feeling a little reluctant to buy the game.

Waaaaaaack I was so excited but I'm not paying 0.01 for a game that might get taken off the store in a few months. What a disappointment.

— Domino (@Yankeesrss) September 24, 2024

There are plenty of gamers who are worried that "Palworld" will get removed from the PlayStation Store just as quickly as it was added. A fully digital multiplayer-focused game like this could vanish overnight, if that's what is ordered by the court.

I love this company so unbothered by the lawsuit 😂😂 I support you guys!

— Noot (@flacodetaco) September 24, 2024

However, some "Palworld" fans are actually feeling pretty good about the PS5 release, and they're taking this launch as a sign that Pocketpair isn't too worried about the lawsuit.

I'm thinking about buying this again just to put out the finger for the Pokemon company.

— Solear Gaming and Game making (@SolearGnG) September 25, 2024

It's easy to see that Pocketpair is losing out on some sales from PS5 players who are nervous about "Palworld" getting pulled from the platform, but a handful of gamers actually see the lawsuit as an incentive. These folks might just be buying the game to stick it to Nintendo, but the money will filter into Pocketpair's legal fund all the same.

Gamers are going to be talking about the story of "Palworld" for years to come. A small indie developer like Pocketpair creating an earth-shattering hit was already a story worth remembering, but the game's legal trouble arguably makes it even more important. As you might imagine, gamers have some strong feelings about Nintendo's legal history. The company is so famously litigious that people have created entire websites dedicated to tracking the companies, fan groups, and even individual gamers and content creators that Nintendo has gone after. Because of that, some see "Palworld" as a rallying cry for anyone who wants to push back against the shady side of Nintendo.

The "Palworld" lawsuit also highlights another issue in the modern gaming scene. Digital storefronts make getting new games more convenient than ever, but the thought of spending money on a game feels a little different when you realize you don't actually get to own it. Someone could buy "Palworld" on PS5 today, only to lose access to it months or years from now when the Pocketpair/Nintendo lawsuit gets settled. In places like California, laws are being passed to try and protect consumers buying digital licenses for games and other content. Even with those protections, digital products are always going to be seen a little differently from physical ones. The "Palworld" lawsuit is bringing these debates to the forefront, and we might end up best remembering the game for that, rather than its bizarrely adorable killer animals.