Palworld Reaches 32M Players in Year 1 Amid Nintendo Pokémon Lawsuit Threat

Since its early access launch in January 2024, Palworld has attracted over 32 million players across all platforms, including PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. The game, often dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has seen tremendous success, and developer Pocketpair expressed their gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much! As always, your support means the world to us!" They further promised to enhance the game in its second year, with John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's Communications Director and Publishing Manager, stating, "We will continue to work hard to make Palworld year 2 even better!"

Palworld was launched on Steam for $30 and was immediately available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC. The game broke sales and concurrent player number records, leading to overwhelming profits that Pocketpair initially struggled to manage. Capitalizing on this success, Pocketpair signed a deal with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, aimed at expanding the IP and bringing the game to PS5.

Amidst ongoing development and updates for Palworld, the developer faces a high-profile patent lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The lawsuit follows accusations of Palworld "ripping off" Pokémon designs, particularly the mechanic of capturing creatures in a field using a ball-like object, similar to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus late payment damages and an injunction to block Palworld's release. Pocketpair confirmed being sued over three Japan-based patents related to catching Pokémon in a virtual field. Recent changes in how players summon Pals have sparked speculation about their connection to the lawsuit.

Legal experts view the lawsuit as evidence of the competitive threat Palworld poses to established franchises. Pocketpair remains defiant, vowing to assert its position in court, stating, "We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings." Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair continues to roll out major updates for Palworld and has even embarked on crossovers with other popular games, including a collaboration with Terraria.