Nintendo and its partner, The Pokémon Company, have filed a legal case against the creators of the popular survival adventure game Palworld, accusing them of patent infringement.
Palworld, which gained attention in 2021 when its trailer led to the game being dubbed “Pokémon with guns,” has drawn comparisons to the Pokémon series.
Shortly after its release in January, The Pokémon Company announced it would investigate claims that the game copied elements from its franchise.
According to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Palworld “infringes multiple patent rights,” as stated in legal filings posted on their websites.
The companies are seeking both an injunction to halt the alleged infringement and financial compensation for damages.
However, the company’s CEO previously stated that the game had undergone legal checks prior to its release.
Palworld has become a massive success, with over 25 million players in its first month. Like the Pokémon series, the game focuses on collecting unique creatures with special abilities.
Pocketpair’s website describes the gameplay as incorporating elements of “battle, monster-capturing, training, and base building.”
Players, called “pal-tamers,” traverse a large map where they engage in battles against both human enemies and creatures known as “pals,” which can be captured and trained.
The pals can either assist in combat or be utilized in the player’s base to craft items and supplies.
In January, following growing concerns from fans, The Pokémon Company had stated it would investigate and take “appropriate action” if copyright violations were found.
Source-BBC
