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. Dubbed "Pokémon with guns" before its record-breaking release, the crafting and survival game from developer Pocketpair has achieved this milestone on PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5.

Pocketpair expressed their gratitude on social media, saying, “Thank you so much! As always, your support means the world to us!” John 'Bucky' Buckley, Communications Director and Publishing Manager at Pocketpair, added, “We will continue to work hard to make Palworld year 2 even better!”

Palworld launched on Steam for $30 and was also available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, setting new records for sales and concurrent player numbers. The game's massive success overwhelmed Pocketpair, with CEO Takuro Mizobe admitting they were unprepared for the flood of profits. Seizing the opportunity, Pocketpair quickly signed a deal with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, aimed at expanding the game's IP and bringing it to the PS5.

While Pocketpair focuses on updating Palworld, they face a looming high-profile patent lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. After Palworld's launch, accusations surfaced that Palworld's Pals were too similar to Pokémon, leading to claims of design plagiarism. Instead of pursuing copyright infringement, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent lawsuit, demanding 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each plus late payment damages and an injunction to block Palworld's release.

In November, Pocketpair confirmed they were being sued over three Japan-based patents related to catching Pokémon in a virtual field. Palworld features a similar mechanic with the Pal Sphere, akin to the one in the 2022 Nintendo Switch exclusive Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recently, Pocketpair made changes to how players summon Pals, sparking speculation that these adjustments were influenced by the ongoing lawsuit.

Patent experts view the lawsuit as evidence of the competitive threat Palworld poses to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The legal battle is closely watched, with Pocketpair firmly stating, “We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings.”

Despite these challenges, Pocketpair has not slowed down, continuously releasing major updates for Palworld and forging collaborations, such as the one with Terraria, to further engage their growing community.