Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are teaming up to sue Pocketpair, makers of Palworld

Nintendo is no stranger to legal battles, and this time it’s working with The Pokemon Company in a lawsuit against the developers of the hit game Palworld, Pocketpair, accusing them of patent infringement. The short notice popped up on Nintendo's official website, filed in the Tokyo District Court on 18 September 2024.

This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights.



Nintendo will continue to take necessary actions against any infringement of its intellectual property rights including the Nintendo brand itself, to protect the intellectual properties it has worked hard to establish over the years.

It feels like the sort of thing Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have been itching to do since Palworld first made waves earlier this year. Dubbed by many as “Pokemon with guns”, the game didn’t exactly shy away from inviting comparisons. It features creatures called Pals – eerily similar to Pokemons in how you capture, befriend, and then use them to perform tasks in the world. But the twist that got people talking (and likely got Nintendo’s legal team scribbling) is that you can arm these Pals. Yes, guns and cute creatures – that combination was always going to raise eyebrows, and apparently, it’s also raised legal red flags.

In fact, The Pokemon Company even hinted as much as what’s about to come with a not-so-subtle hint back in January 2024 when Palworld was making its debut splash. Their statement back then didn’t mince words, saying they would investigate any possible intellectual property infringement. Given that Pokemon is one of the most recognizable, and family-friendly, brands on the planet, it’s no shock they’re protective of their turf. And Palworld might have wandered a little too close with their guns and violence to Pikachu’s backyard for Nintendo’s liking.

It’s worth noting that Pocketpair, as of this writing, hasn’t responded to the lawsuit publicly. That might be a strategic silence, or they could be cooking up their defence. But given Nintendo’s track record with these types of suits, Pocketpair’s legal team probably has its work cut out.

Source: Nintendo

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