The Pokémon Company Releases Statement About Palworld
Finally breaking their silence on the matter, The Pokémon Company has finally released a statement regarding the ongoing comparisons to the hugely popular new game, Palworld.
Earlier today, The Pokémon Company seems to have finally broken its silence regarding the viral new game, Palworld. The statement does not mention Palworld by name, simply stating: “We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024.” The Pokémon Company goes on to say that they “intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to… Pokémon.” Here is the full statement:
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.
Source: The Pokémon Company
The massive success of Palworld has only continued to grow in the week since its release, consistently topping the charts on Steam. While the gameplay of Palworld is very different from traditional Pokémon games, the designs of the catchable creatures have caught the eye of many fans. One user (@CecilaFae) even created a thread to point out the comparisons and similarities on X (formerly Twitter).
Former employees from The Pokémon Company, lawyers, and others have all shared their takes on the unique situation. Don McGowan, the former head of The Pokémon Company’s legal team, said in an interview with GameFile that he is surprised that Palworld “got this far” and called it another Pokémon “rip-off.” Meanwhile, Rock, Paper, Shotgun, asked a media law expert who said the developer Pocketpair has no reason to worry because the two games “are sufficiently different.”
With so many different opinions being thrown around, it’s not clear what will happen next, how long The Pokémon Company’s investigations will last, or what evidence they will uncover. For now, there doesn’t seem to be any end to Palworld’s huge popularity. But we will have to wait and see what happens next in this evolving situation.
