Palworld Developer Removes Features Under Legal Pressure from Nintendo
The monster-collecting action game Palworld rose to fame with its bold mechanics and stylized creatures, but its resemblance to the Pokémon franchise has brought about legal consequences. Developed by Pocketpair, the game has seen rapid changes in response to a lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company claiming patent infringement—not copyright, as many initially assumed.
- Launched in early access in 2024, Palworld quickly drew comparisons to Pokémon for its use of mechanics like Pal Spheres, gliding with creatures, and stylized character design.
- As legal scrutiny intensified, Pocketpair has started stripping out specific features in recent updates, citing the lawsuit as the driving reason behind these changes.
Key features removed due to litigation
In a blog post titled “Regarding the lawsuit, changes to Palworld and the future”, Pocketpair confirmed that legal pressure was the cause of gameplay alterations.
- The removal of Pal Spheres, which closely resembled Poké Balls, was among the most prominent changes.
- Another feature—using Pals to glide across the terrain—was also eliminated to avoid further legal risk.
- Pocketpair acknowledged these removals were disappointing but necessary to preserve the broader gameplay experience.
While Nintendo has not issued a public comment, the lawsuit is clearly affecting game development, especially in regions where patent protections are strictly enforced.
Legal basis centers on patent infringement
Rather than pursuing a copyright claim, which might have required proving artistic copying, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed the suit under patent law, focusing on core game mechanics.
- Legal experts suggest this approach gives Nintendo a stronger foundation, as functional elements like item use or character movement are more defensible under patent law.
- Florian Mueller, a regulatory analyst from Games Fray, noted that Pocketpair’s changes may help weaken the lawsuit, potentially protecting the game in the U.S. market.
By proactively adjusting game features, Pocketpair may be attempting to preempt a court-ordered injunction, allowing the game to continue while the case unfolds.
Industry response and expert opinion
Florian Mueller has shared sharp criticism of the legal move, describing it as a form of corporate overreach.
- He argued on X (formerly Twitter) that Nintendo’s actions amount to “bullying”, especially since the patents in question may not represent meaningful technical innovation.
- Mueller also warned of a precedent: with companies like Sony and Microsoft holding tens of thousands of patents, aggressive enforcement could stifle creative development across the industry.
He suggests that if Pocketpair can invalidate the patents in court, the removed features could return in future versions.
Ongoing development despite legal hurdles
Even as litigation continues, Palworld‘s growth hasn’t been stifled. The game remains widely available and continues to evolve with new content and updates.
- Currently, Palworld is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles, and PC, with a mobile version reportedly in development.
- The removal of features has not slowed expansion, hinting that Pocketpair is focusing on compliance while maintaining player engagement.
This legal battle may shape how future indie developers handle parody, inspiration, and intellectual property in games that draw from well-known franchises.
