The creators of Palworld confess that they never thought they would be sued by Nintendo

Nintendo has made headlines recently by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against the developer Pocketpair, regarding their popular game Palworld. This news has taken many by surprise, including the members of Pocketpair themselves, who stated that “no one thought” about patent issues after conducting legal checks before the launch in Japan.

Naive statements, at best

In a recent developer conference, John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, communications director of Pocketpair, shared the difficulties the team has faced post-launch. The demand has created an environment of stress and sadness among the developers, who felt disillusioned by the situation. “It was a pretty depressing day. Many of us went home with our heads down,” Buckley commented, referring to the internal reaction of the team after learning about the demand.

In the context of the controversy, Pocketpair has received threats of violence, which has led the company to take additional security measures and even modify its participation in major events like the Tokyo Game Show. Buckley also indicated that some game updates have sought to distance themselves from certain mechanics that resemble what Nintendo has patented, although the company continues to face image problems and pressure from fans.

On the other hand, Nintendo’s lawsuit also has broader legal implications, as it has been reported that the company is pursuing a patent in the U.S. that could connect with the original allegations. Buckley reflected on the current situation, suggesting that “very few companies could survive” a similar crisis, where the combination of threats, pressure, and negativity could result in the collapse of a less resilient studio. The gaming community and developers remain attentive to how this matter will evolve in the coming months.

Palworld DOWNLOAD

Palworld is an action game for PC developed by Pocketpair. In this multiplayer adventure and open-world game, players can explore a vast land filled with creatures called Pal. They can be tamed, sold, made to help in battles, among other things—the choice is up to the player.