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Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair in Japan last year, alleging that Palworld infringes on three patents that are related to monster catching gameplay, all of which were initially filed by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company between February and July last year. Palworld was released on January 19, 2024.

On Thursday, Pocketpair confirmed it had previously patched out the ability to summon Pals via 'Pal Spheres' due to the legal action, and confirmed that further changes were coming in order to avoid disrupting future development and releases.

"On November 30th, 2024, we released Patch v0.3.11 for Palworld," it said. "This patch removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pal Spheres and instead changed it to a static summon next to the player.

"Several other game mechanics were also changed with this patch. As many have speculated, these changes were indeed a result of the ongoing litigation. Everyone here at Pocketpair was disappointed that this adjustment had to be made, and we fully understand that many players feel the same frustration.

"Unfortunately, as the alternative would have led to an even greater deterioration of the gameplay experience for players, it was determined that this change was necessary."

In addition, Pocketpair said that with the implementation of Patch v0.5.5 this week, "we must make yet another compromise".

"From this patch onward, gliding will be performed using a glider rather than with Pals. Pals in the player's team will still provide passive buffs to gliding, but players will now need to have a glider in their inventory in order to glide.

"We understand that this will be disappointing for many, just as it is for us, but we hope our fans understand that these changes are necessary in order to prevent further disruptions to the development of Palworld.

"We also want to extend our apologies to our fans for the discomfort and concern this ongoing litigation has caused. We remain committed to developing Palworld and delivering exciting new content to our fans."

Palworld confirms ‘disappointing’ game changes forced by Pokémon lawsuit | VGC

Palworld is patching our various features related to Nintendo’s lawsuit…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[Sakura]

Does The Pokemon Company also own the idea of riding monsters?

 

[dreamstation]

Nintendogs

 

[kpopSuperstar]

These guys are so dirty, they like to steal.

 

[GymWolf]

The saviours of gaming alright.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

 

[RoboFu]

Make an original game next time.

 

[Topher]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

The entire video game industry is built on iterating on previous works. Throwing a ball is suddenly crossing the line?

Make an original game next time.

Should Ubisoft sue for the use of towers in Zelda?

 

[LordOcidax]

Another win for the Neogaf lawyer

 

[PJX]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

The entire video game industry is built on iterating on previous works. Throwing a ball is suddenly crossing the line?



Should Ubisoft sue for the use of towers in Zelda?

This.

 

[GymWolf]

The entire video game industry is built on iterating on previous works. Throwing a ball is suddenly crossing the line?



Should Ubisoft sue for the use of towers in Zelda?

They should start with pokemon stealing from dragon quest first.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

unlucky, Looks like Palworld devs may need to wait 20 years then re-patent the mechanic back once it expires.

 

[Topher]

They should start with pokemon stealing from dragon quest first.

 

[LordOcidax]

They should start with pokemon stealing from dragon quest first.

Tell Square that they need to sue Nintendo

 

[Topher]

Tell Square that they need to sue Nintendo

If it were the other way around we all know Nintendo damn sure would

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

This.

As you may recall, when the game was released (announced?) the chatter around the game on the internet was almost entirely "Well, expect Nintendo's lawyers to drop a lawsuit any moment now", "how is this legal?", etc. That is my recollection.

Normally, the discourse around new games is "oh, look! a new game", not swallowed up by the topic of copyright infringement and legal concerns.

 

[Scrawnton]

They should start with pokemon stealing from dragon quest first.

There's a big difference between making monsters that look inspired or based on other designs (Pokemon and dragon quest) and making your monster designs so obviously inspired that it's as if you traced or stole model assets (Palworld and Pokemon).

One is legal (could still be shameless depending on how you look at it) and the other is most definitely illegal if it is discovered tracing / asset theft took place.

I find it highly disingenuous that people try to equate Pokemon/dragon quest to what happened with Palworld/pokemon. These people clearly are not analyzing or arguing in good faith.

 

[Mownoc]

"From this patch onward, gliding will be performed using a glider rather than with Pals. Pals in the player's team will still provide passive buffs to gliding, but players will now need to have a glider in their inventory in order to glide."

Nintendo going to have to go after Skyrim and WoW. Mounts are for Nintendo only! I enjoy my weekly reminder Nintendo are assholes.

 

[RoboFu]

The entire video game industry is built on iterating on previous works. Throwing a ball is suddenly crossing the line?



Should Ubisoft sue for the use of towers in Zelda?

not even the same kind of " towers "

Gtfo with that nonsense. It would more like if Nintendo used the Enzio model for link.

 

[LordOcidax]

If it were the other way around we all know Nintendo damn sure would

 

[PJX]

As you may recall, when the game was released (announced?) the chatter around the game on the internet was almost entirely "Well, expect Nintendo's lawyers to drop a lawsuit any moment now", "how is this legal?", etc. That is my recollection.

Normally, the discourse around new games is "oh, look! a new game", not swallowed up by the topic of copyright infringement and legal concerns.

Those conversation were mainly from Nintendo loyal fans.

 

[Topher]

not even the same kind of " towers "

Gtfo with that nonsense. It would more like if Nintendo used the Enzio model for link.

Read what is being changed in Palworld due to this lawsuit. Not about models at all. Nonsense indeed

 

[Topher]

There's a big difference between making monsters that look inspired or based on other designs (Pokemon and dragon quest) and making your monster designs so obviously inspired that it's as if you traced or stole model assets (Palworld and Pokemon).

One is legal (could still be shameless depending on how you look at it) and the other is most definitely illegal if it is discovered tracing / asset theft took place.

I find it highly disingenuous that people try to equate Pokemon/dragon quest to what happened with Palworld/pokemon. These people clearly are not analyzing or arguing in good faith.

Disagree. The similarities are there in either case, but that's not what the lawsuit is about. You simply disagreeing with the assertions of others doesn't mean they are not "arguing in good faith". Just means you disagree.

 

[Scrawnton]

Disagree. The similarities are there in either case, but that's not what the lawsuit is about. You simply disagreeing with the assertions of others doesn't mean they are not "arguing in good faith". Just means you disagree.

Attempting to equate similarities and damn near tracing / evidence of model copying IS arguing in bad faith. Yes, that's not what the lawsuit is about but every time we get an update about the lawsuit there's people trying to force the narrative that pokemon/DQ is the same situation as Palworld/pokemon.

 

[Topher]

Attempting to equate similarities and damn near tracing / evidence of model copying IS arguing in bad faith. Yes, that's not what the lawsuit is about but every time we get an update about the lawsuit there's people trying to force the narrative that pokemon/DQ is the same situation as Palworld/pokemon.

Someone posted comparisons before and looked like "damn near tracing" to me in either case. Oh well

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

I hope that at least corporate boot you are licking right now is tasty.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Not sure why anyone, even Nintendo diehards, are happy about this. The blatantly copied models are still untouched as far as I can tell while gameplay mechanics are the things being hit. Those are the changes that run the risk of setting a really terrible precedent leading to stifling game design.

 

[Scrawnton]

Someone posted comparisons before and looked like "damn near tracing" to me in either case. Oh well

And this is what I call bad faith arguing. Go ahead and post that typical picture people drop into these threads and show me one thing that looks actually one to one traced compared to inspire or lifted. There's a massive difference between both scenarios.

If you can post the picture to prove you see "damn near tracing" then I'll concede. But until then, you are 100% arguing in bad faith with these false comparisons in my eyes.

 

[Little Chicken]

Nintendo are just mad that some nobodies made a better Pokemon game than they could, and Pocketpair didn't even need to split the game into two colors to fleece consumers and inflate sales.

 

[Gonzito]

People defending Nintendo's attitude in this thread are almost as embarassing as their pokemon games

 

[Gojiira]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

Nintendo didnt invent riding monsters dumbass…Or capturing them…All they actually own is the visual design. Get bent

 

[Hudo]

Does The Pokemon Company also own the idea of riding monsters?

That would mean going after Dragon Quest, and even the Pokemon Company isn't that retarded.

 

[Sebastian1295]

The fact that people still defend Nintendo is embarrassing. Nintendo don't give two fucks about you or there consumers and yet people defend them when they sue smaller companies and shut down modders or rom sites.

 

[Darchaos]

Sheeeez, a kids gamedev doing all they can to destroy some enjoyment for others, thats just pure Evil.

 

[Sebastian1295]

Make an original game next time.

 

[GHound]

So many gullible retards. Would say I hope their Switch 2s die a day out of warranty but they'd line right up to buy five more.

 

[mèx]

This shit makes me want to actually buy Palworld. Not interested in the game at all but this is beyond ridiculous.

 

[MagnesD3]

If you support nintendo on this one I cant imagine you think very deeply about things... Corps are not your buddies fyi.

 

[Topher]

And this is what I call bad faith arguing. Go ahead and post that typical picture people drop into these threads and show me one thing that looks actually one to one traced compared to inspire or lifted. There's a massive difference between both scenarios.

If you can post the picture to prove you see "damn near tracing" then I'll concede. But until then, you are 100% arguing in bad faith with these false comparisons in my eyes.

Well....I'll agree that it isn't traced now that I've looked at it again. But I don't see anything that is "traced" in the Palworld comparison either. Traced means a copy. They are not copies. Not even "damn near". Which is probably why this isn't part of the lawsuit. Clearly Pokemon drew inspiration from Dragon Quest and Palworld drew inspiration from Pokemon. Is Palworld more similar to Pokemon than Pokemon to Dragon Quest? Yes. Massive difference in scenarios? No.

 

[Skifi28]

There's a big difference between making monsters that look inspired or based on other designs (Pokemon and dragon quest) and making your monster designs so obviously inspired that it's as if you traced or stole model assets (Palworld and Pokemon).

One is legal (could still be shameless depending on how you look at it) and the other is most definitely illegal if it is discovered tracing / asset theft took place.

I find it highly disingenuous that people try to equate Pokemon/dragon quest to what happened with Palworld/pokemon. These people clearly are not analyzing or arguing in good faith.

I don't believe any part of the lawsuit is about similar looking monsters. If Nintendo could sue for that, do you think they wouldn't?

 

[Unknown?]

Well....I'll agree that it isn't traced now that I've looked at it again. But I don't see anything that is "traced" in the Palworld comparison either. Traced means a copy. They are not copies. Which is probably why this isn't part of the lawsuit. Massive difference in scenarios? No.

They look inspired, not copies.

 

[Miles708]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

As the OP states, the copyrights were created AFTER Palworld's release.

In my understanding Nintendo is mainly going after ridiculous claims over generic mechanics, probably as a way to punish Palworld's designs, which are apparently not copyrightable.

 

[rodrigolfp]

"From this patch onward, gliding will be performed using a glider rather than with Pals. Pals in the player's team will still provide passive buffs to gliding, but players will now need to have a glider in their inventory in order to glide."

This is next level BULLSHIT.

Well....I'll agree that it isn't traced now that I've looked at it again. But I don't see anything that is "traced" in the Palworld comparison either. Traced means a copy. They are not copies. Not even "damn near". Which is probably why this isn't part of the lawsuit. Clearly Pokemon drew inspiration from Dragon Quest and Palworld drew inspiration from Pokemon. Is Palworld more similar to Pokemon than Pokemon to Dragon Quest? Yes. Massive difference in scenarios? No.

The only one close there is Shellder. The rest are very remotely close. Pidgeot, Rhyhorn, Growlithe, Nidoran comparatives are so far that is almost offensive.

 

[Ozriel]

"Disappointing"? Give me a break. You can't copy someone else's copyrighted work and expect to not receive any legal pushback. Gtfo

Throwing a ball and gliding with the aid of monsters is 'copyrighted work' now?

Hard for Nintendo to claim their brand is harmed by Palworld when Pokémon Scarlet/Violet just became the second highest selling Pokémon game of all time in slightly over a year.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Dont worry, the same ppl saying Nintendo is scummy every time they do dis shit will still buy Switch 2 and support the company.

 

[Embearded]

As expected, Nintendo and TPC fanboys running to defense here.

Nintendo are just mad that some nobodies made a better Pokemon game than they could, and Pocketpair didn't even need to split the game into two colors to fleece consumers and inflate sales.

This.
GameFreak is an absolute technically incompetent studio, pushing out the same game for decades now, with zero contribution to the industry's tech. They cannot have competitors taking slices of the pie they have been solo devouring since 1996.

Hiding behind copyrighted game mehcanics makes them look like fools.

 

[Mr Moose]

Patent trolling cunts.

 

[Musashipan]

Good job Nintendo. Keep up the good work!

 

[Baemono]

Throwing a ball and gliding with the aid of monsters is 'copyrighted work' now?

Hard for Nintendo to claim their brand is harmed by Palworld when Pokémon Scarlet/Violet just became the second highest selling Pokémon game of all time in slightly over a year.

Well they can argue it could've been the highest selling if it wasn't for Palworld

 

[Fbh]

Insane that the courts allow Nintendo to do this level of patent trolling.
Gaming has always thrived on derivative work and people taking inspiration from existing games.

Imagine if Ultima and Wizardry were allowed to patent most of their mechanics back in the 80's. We'd basically have gotten none of our favorite RPGs