Nintendo, Pokemon sues ‘Pokemon with guns’ game makers, this is what the game developer has to say

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair Inc., the developer of the hit game Palworld, seeking an injunction and compensation for damages. The legal action was filed in Tokyo District Court.

This legal action follows The Pokémon Company's January announcement that it would investigate potential intellectual property rights infringements related to Palworld. The game's similarities to Pokémon have been a subject of debate and controversy since its first trailer was unveiled in 2021.

Palworld, which gained popularity for its creature-collecting gameplay reminiscent of Pokémon but with the addition of firearms, has attracted over 25 million players since its mid-January release. The game quickly earned the nickname "Pokémon with guns" among fans and critics alike.

Palworld developer says Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s lawsuit is “truly unfortunate”

In response to the lawsuit, Pocketpair acknowledged receiving notice and outlined their next steps. "We have received notice of this lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement," the company stated.

Pocketpair emphasised their identity as a small, independent game studio and their commitment to creativity. "Pocketpair is a small indie game company based in Tokyo. Our goal as a company has always been to create fun games," the statement read. "We will continue to pursue this goal because we know that our games bring joy to millions of gamers around the world."

The company expressed concern about the impact of the lawsuit on their operations and the broader indie game development community. "It is truly unfortunate that we will be forced to allocate significant time to matters unrelated to game development due to this lawsuit. However, we will do our utmost for our fans, and to ensure that indie game developers are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas."