The gaming community is no stranger to the popularity of Palworld, but what many may not know is that the game’s success is threatened by a lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The lawsuit alleges that Palworld infringes on certain patents held by Nintendo, putting the game’s future at risk. In a recent interview with PC Gamer at GDC, John Buckley, community manager at Pocketpair, the development team behind Palworld, shared the impact of the lawsuit on the team.
The lawsuit has taken a toll on the team’s morale, with many employees feeling disheartened and confused. According to Buckley, the team had to “scale back a little bit” to avoid drawing too much attention to the game. This was a difficult decision, especially since the team had just released the PlayStation version of Palworld and were gearing up to attend the Tokyo Game Show 2024. As a precautionary measure, the team even hired security guards for the event.
Buckley revealed that the lawsuit was a shock to the team, as they had thoroughly checked the game for any potential copyright issues before its release. “Almost everyone at Pocketpair is a fan of the game, and when it became the center of attention, it was a sad day. It was like everyone was walking around with their heads down, trying to avoid the rain,” he said. The team’s confidence in their game was shaken, and they were forced to re-examine their work.
The lawsuit has been a significant setback for Pocketpair, but the team is determined to move forward. As Buckley explained, “We had checked the laws before Palworld was released, so when the lawsuit was announced, our first reaction was ‘what’s going on?’ We went back to our lawyers, and they contacted the court to ask what was happening. That’s when we realized they were suing us over patents.” The team is now working to resolve the issue and ensure the future of Palworld.
The situation is a reminder of the complexities and challenges of game development, where even the most seemingly innocuous titles can become embroiled in legal battles. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it’s essential for developers to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect their intellectual property.
Source: Eurogamer
