The Pokemon Company officially responds to Palworld controversy

Over the past week, the open world monster collecting game Palworld has taken the world by storm, selling over 6 million copies in 4 days and shooting to the top of the Steam concurrent charts. Despite this, the game has garnered a great deal of controversy due to its clear Pokemon inspirations. Speaking on these comparisons, The Pokemon Company has released an official statement.

In a statement released to their corporate website, The Pokemon Company responded to “Inquiries Regarding Other Companies’ Games,” saying:

“We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game.”

It continues, “We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.”

The Pokemon Company has a history of being quite litigious and so it is interesting to see the relative timidity of this statement. While Palworld is clearly inspired by Pokemon, the game is likely different enough to keep them in the clear legally – as long as they don’t lean into all the Pokemon mods.

KitGuru says: What do you think of The Pokemon Company’s statement? Do you think they will take action? Is Palword too similar to Pokemon? Let us know down below.

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