Palworld has taken the internet by storm over the past week with an interesting gameplay idea: mixing a Pokémon-like world into a full survival game. People across the web have been nudging The Pokémon Company to let them know that a large portion of designs within the game very clearly take more than just inspiration from the classic franchise.
Even I dropped a ton of hours into Palworld earlier this month and wrote up a huge early access preview here on Comfy Cozy Gaming, where I addressed quite a bit of the obviousness of its inspirations.
This evening on January 24th (or January 25th, technically, in Japan), The Pokémon Company finally put out an official corporate statement regarding Palworld. It doesn’t say much, but, at the same time, it speaks volumes about their approach to this new game.
Inquiries Regarding Other Companies’ Games
We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon 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 Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.
The Pokémon Company
Link: https://corporate.pokemon.co.jp/media/news/detail/335.html
Palworld is clear… for now.
To break it down, TPCi has essentially opted to back off, for now at least. It’s clear that they’re monitoring the game to make sure it doesn’t step out of line. But, they’re keeping their distance for now, even opting to not call the game by name, only as “another company’s game released in January 2024.” It’s Palworld. We know it’s Palworld.
However, earlier this week, modder ToastedShoes teased a video of a Pokémon mod that would replace Palworld‘s technically-not-Pokémon and characters directly into the classic Pocket Monsters and characters directly out of the anime and games. Before ToastedShoes had a chance, Nintendo squashed the mod like a bug-type Pokémon going up against a rock-type Pokémon.
That happened earlier today with a full DMCA, as ToastedShoes said on X (formerly Twitter) “Nintendo has come for me, please leave me in your thoughts and prayers.”
The statement is clearly skirting around directly talking about Palworld, but is out for blood on anything that directly utilizes their IP. I guess we will see how Palworld evolves and levels up as it works its way through early access into the eventual 1.0 version.
Until then, don’t mess with The Pokémon Company or their IP. Let Palworld grow on its own and become something wonderful before Pokémon finally makes their own Palworld (any day now, right?).
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