Pocketpair's reaction to Nintendo's Palworld patent infringement lawsuit: "It was a very depressing day"

In September 2024, Nintendo, together with The Pokémon Company, filed a lawsuit against the developer of Palworld, Pocketpair, accusing it of patent infringement. This step came as a surprise to the developers, and one of them decided to tell us about that day.

Here's What We Know

After the release of Palworld in January 2024, the game quickly gained popularity, but also faced criticism due to its similarity to the Pokémon franchise. In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court, claiming that Palworld infringes on several patents, including the mechanics of using balls to capture creatures and the ability to ride them.

John Buckley, Pocketpair's communications manager, shared during his speech at GDC 2025 that the news of the lawsuit came as a shock to the team: "We did our due diligence before releasing Palworld, and it was approved in Japan. So when the lawsuit was announced, we were surprised." He also noted that it was a "very depressing day" for the studio, as most of the employees are big Nintendo fans.

After the lawsuit was filed, Pocketpair had to make adjustments to its plans. In particular, they were forced to hire security guards to ensure the safety of employees before participating in the Tokyo Game Show.

As of March 2025, the lawsuit is still ongoing. Pocketpair continues to defend its position, expressing frustration at the need to spend resources on legal procedures.

Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair continues to work on its projects and grow.

Source: PC Gamer