The Pokemon Company released a statement in English and Japanese regarding Palworld. It stated that it will investigate it to see if the developer Pocketpair really infringed on The Pokemon Company’s intellectual rights.
The full statement is as follows:
We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in january 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokemon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokemon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokemon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokemon in the future.
This is following online discourse about Palworld and its Pals’ resemblance to existing Pokemon designs and models. While many Pokemon and Pals share common inspiration, such as mythological creature and real-life animals, many have pointed out that Palworld’s designs seem to rip assets straight from Pokemon’s models. Palworld has been extremely popular since its release. It sold over 6 million copies in four days and surpassed Counter-Strike 2 on Steam for the most concurrent players on January 23, 2024.
The Pokemon Company will release more information about its investigation and findings in the near future. Palworld is readily available for the Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, though it’s in early access.
