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 release, the crafting and survival game from developer Pocketpair has been a resounding success.
"Thank you so much!" Pocketpair expressed on X (formerly Twitter). "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 hit the market with a $30 price tag on Steam and was simultaneously available on Xbox and PC via Game Pass. The game broke sales and concurrent player records upon its release. Takuro Mizobe, the head of Pocketpair, mentioned that the game's launch was so successful that the company struggled to manage the influx of profits. In response to the game's breakout success, Pocketpair quickly moved to expand its reach by signing a deal with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, a new business focused on expanding the IP and launching the game on PS5.
While Pocketpair continues to enhance Palworld with updates, it faces a significant challenge with a high-profile patent lawsuit brought by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following Palworld's launch, some accused Pocketpair of copying Pokémon designs, leading to comparisons between Palworld's Pals and Pokémon. Instead of a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent lawsuit, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus damages for late payment and an injunction to block Palworld's release.
In November, Pocketpair acknowledged the three Japan-based patents related to catching Pokémon in a virtual field that they are being sued over. Palworld features a similar mechanic where players throw a Pal Sphere at monsters to capture them, akin to the mechanics in the 2022 Nintendo Switch exclusive, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recently, Pocketpair modified how players summon Pals, leading to speculation that this change was made in response to the patent infringement lawsuit.
Patent experts view the lawsuit as evidence of the competitive threat posed by Palworld. The legal battle's outcome remains uncertain, with Pocketpair committed to defending its position in court, stating, "We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings."
Despite these legal challenges, Pocketpair has not slowed down, continuously releasing major updates for Palworld and forging collaborations with other major video games, such as a crossover with Terraria.
