The classic formula established by the Pokémon franchise is one that has stood the test of time better than many others. While Pokémon does tend to monopolize the monster-catching RPG genre, a number of other series and games have used it as well. The most recent and arguably most successful of these to hit the market was Palworld, which was released earlier this year. Despite the initial success, however, controversy around the game has been plentiful, and as of today, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair Inc., the developers of Palworld.
The news release for the lawsuit was posted on the Nintendo website and states that Palworld infringes on multiple patent rights held by TPCi and Nintendo. The specifics are not detailed in the report, so what they are specifically remains unknown. Many fans pointed out very quickly that some of Palworld’s designs share a lot of features in common with existing Pokémon, which may well be the source of the issue. Of course, it’s impossible to be certain until more information is made public regarding the case, and it could very well be something else entirely.
What this lawsuit means for Palworld and Pocketpair Inc. as a whole is unclear. Should they be found guilty, they’ll be required to pay compensation for the damages, which will likely be no small amount given the magnitude of the situation. The only way to know for sure will be to wait and see what happens. Regardless of the outcome, though, it seems that Palworld will continue to be the subject of controversy and debate as time goes on.
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Written by Abbie Maxwell
Lifelong Nintendo fangirl, Abbie holds a special place in her heart for video games. She has always strived to provide tips and tricks to make the experiences of those who share her passions that much better.
