As legal tensions mount between Nintendo and Pocketpair, the Palworld developer is pushing back by referencing decades of industry precedent to defend the game’s core mechanics against allegations of patent infringement.
In a formal response filed via Gamesfray, Pocketpair argues that the monster-catching systems central to Palworld are neither new nor unique. The document points to genre-defining titles like Craftopia, Fallout 4, Monster Hunter Stories 2, and Rune Factory 5, arguing that features such as combat-based capturing and companion-based gameplay long predate Nintendo’s 2023 patent claims.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking ¥5 million in damages, stating that Palworld infringes on three specific patents tied to creature acquisition and battle mechanics. In turn, Pocketpair is invoking the legal concept of “prior art,” claiming these mechanics are commonplace in gaming and not proprietary.
The studio also highlights that its earlier title, Craftopia, released in 2020, featured strikingly similar systems—essentially making Palworld a spiritual successor rather than a derivative.
This legal defense follows Palworld’s staggering player count, which now exceeds 25 million across Xbox and PC platforms. Its success has undoubtedly drawn sharper scrutiny from IP holders wary of market overlap.
For now, Pocketpair is standing firm: Palworld isn’t imitation—it’s iteration. And the lawsuit may ultimately test where the line lies between innovation and inspiration in modern game design.
