Palworld has reached an impressive milestone of over 32 million players across all platforms since its early access release in January 2024.
The crafting and survival game, which earned the nickname “Pokémon with guns” before its launch, hit this mark on PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5.
“We are beyond grateful for all your support!” Pocketpair expressed in a tweet. “It truly means the world to us.”
John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, Pocketpair’s Communications Director and Publishing Manager, added, “We’re committed to making year 2 of Palworld even better!”
After launching on Steam for $30 and on Xbox Game Pass for both Xbox and PC, Palworld quickly shattered sales records and peaked concurrent player numbers. Pocketpair’s CEO, Takuro Mizobe, stated that the success was so massive that the studio struggled to handle the influx of profits. Despite this, Pocketpair capitalized on the popularity by partnering with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, an initiative aimed at expanding the game’s IP and bringing it to PS5.
However, amid all of Palworld‘s success, the looming threat of a lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company hangs over the project.
Following Palworld‘s launch, many fans pointed out similarities between the game’s “Pals” and Pokémon, with some accusing Pocketpair of copying the designs. Instead of taking the usual route of filing a copyright infringement suit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent-based legal approach. They are seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) for each patent, plus damages, as well as an injunction to prevent the game from being released.
The lawsuit centers on three patents owned by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, which cover mechanics like catching creatures in a virtual field. Specifically, Palworld uses a mechanic where players throw a ball-like object (called a Pal Sphere) at creatures in the field to capture them, similar to a mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Arceus from 2022. Recently, Pocketpair made some adjustments to how players summon Pals, which many believe is related to the ongoing legal issues.
Patent experts suggest that the lawsuit reflects the real threat Palworld poses to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, signaling the game’s growing impact. The legal battle is still unfolding, with Pocketpair vowing to continue defending its position in court.
Despite the lawsuit, Pocketpair has continued to update Palworld and has even pursued collaborations with other major gaming titles, including a crossover with Terraria.