Palworld Hits 32 Million Players During Year 1 as Nintendo Pokémon Lawsuit Looms Over the Horizon

Palworld, the crafting and survival game dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has achieved remarkable success since its January 2024 early access launch, boasting over 32 million players across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Developer Pocketpair expressed gratitude for this overwhelming support, promising continued efforts to enhance Palworld's Year 2 experience. The game's initial launch, priced at $30 on Steam and included in Xbox Game Pass, shattered sales and concurrent player records, leading to unexpectedly massive profits that initially overwhelmed the developer. This success propelled Pocketpair to form Palworld Entertainment with Sony, aiming to expand the IP and further capitalize on the game's popularity.

However, Palworld's journey isn't without its challenges. A high-profile patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company casts a shadow over its future. Following Palworld's launch, comparisons to Pokémon, and accusations of design similarities, led to a patent infringement lawsuit. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company seek 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each in damages, plus an injunction, focusing on three Japanese patents related to capturing creatures in a virtual field—a mechanic similar to that in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. While Palworld's Pal Sphere capture mechanic bears resemblance to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pocketpair recently altered the Pal summoning mechanic, prompting speculation about its connection to the lawsuit. Patent experts view the lawsuit as a testament to the threat Palworld poses. Despite the legal battle, Pocketpair remains committed to defending its position in court and continues to release major updates and collaborations, including a recent crossover with Terraria.