Palworld vs. Pokémon Company – We have 111 Problems, but Plagiarism ain’t one?

The remarkable success of Palworld has sparked discussions online, drawing comparisons between the game and Pokémon. Speculations have arisen regarding potential legal implications due to their similarities. Palworld offers an immersive open-world multiplayer experience, focusing on survival and exploration. Players embark on a journey where they hunt and strive to survive, encountering and capturing charming creatures known as Pals along the way. While Palworld shares similarities with the Pokémon series in terms of creature capturing mechanics, it’s important to note that it is not a Pokémon game. Instead, it introduces a unique blend of gameplay elements from various genres, including open-world RPGs and survival games.

While games resembling Pokémon have surfaced before, Palworld’s unprecedented triumph has intensified scrutiny. This scrutiny has manifested in side-by-side comparisons, online discussions, the emergence of an unofficial mod (later taken down), and a public statement from The Pokémon Company addressing the matter for the first time.

Pocketpair, the small development team behind Palworld, faces challenges related to server issues and ongoing bug fixes amid the game’s rising popularity. The recent attention drawn to comparisons with Pokémon adds another layer of complexity to their workload.

Recent Developments

As developments unfold, here’s what we currently know about the parallels between Palworld and The Pokémon Company, including the latter’s official response regarding an “investigation into another company’s game”.

Palworld was released into early access for Xbox Series X/S and PC on January 19, 2024. Since its launch, numerous individuals have noted resemblances between Palworld and the Pokémon franchise.

On January 25, the Pokémon Company issued a statement, indirectly addressing Palworld. Although not explicitly naming the game, the statement expresses concern about the unauthorised use of Pokémon intellectual property and assets in a game released in January 2024. The statement emphasises the company’s commitment to investigating and addressing any infringement on Pokémon-related intellectual property rights. Prior to this, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe confirmed that Palworld underwent legal reviews and emphasised the team’s commitment to respecting other companies’ intellectual property.

Comparison between Palworld and Pokémon

The primary point of comparison revolves around creature designs, highlighted in various online videos. While similarities exist, it’s important to note that other games, such as Digimon and Temtem, have featured similar designs without legal repercussions. Certain naming conventions, like Palworld’s Paldeck (similar to the Pokédex) and Pal Sphere (resembling the Poké Ball), have also drawn attention. However, Palworld differs significantly from Pokémon in its gameplay mechanics, focusing more on survival and base building elements.

Side by Side Comparison

Palworld’s Future

The Pokémon Company’s statement signals its intent to investigate potential copyright claims in other games but has not initiated legal action against Pocketpair or any other developers. While speculations abound regarding potential legal outcomes, the situation remains uncertain. Some anticipate a takedown, while others argue that Palworld merely imitates rather than directly copies Pokémon, potentially mitigating the risk of a lawsuit. For a similar discussion on the idea/expression dichotomy in copyright law, please see a previous post on Alan Wake 2.

As we await further developments, Palworld remains available in early access on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.