Introduction:
In the fast-paced world of gaming, intellectual property (IP) rights are often a hot topic. The ongoing legal battle between Pocketpair, the creators of the hit game Palworld, and Nintendo/The Pokémon Company has once again put these issues in the spotlight. As Pocketpair navigates through legal challenges, a group of modders is stepping up to bring back features that were removed due to IP-related lawsuits.
The Rise and Fallout of Palworld:
Released in early 2024 for $30 and available on Xbox Game Pass, Palworld quickly broke records for both sales and player engagement. Riding the wave of its viral success, Pocketpair formed a partnership with Sony to create Palworld Entertainment, signaling big plans for the franchise, including a PS5 launch.
However, the game’s success didn’t come without its challenges. The similarities between Palworld’s creatures, called Pals, and Pokémon led to accusations of IP infringement. While Nintendo didn’t immediately file a copyright lawsuit, it chose a more strategic legal approach, claiming patent violations. The complaint focuses on three Japanese patents related to capturing creatures in virtual settings.
Patents, Lawsuits, and Gameplay Changes:
At the center of the dispute is a key mechanic in Palworld: capturing creatures in the wild using a Pal Sphere, which bears a striking resemblance to Pokémon’s iconic Pokéball mechanic from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The lawsuit is seeking damages of 5 million yen per company (around $32,846) and an injunction to halt Palworld’s distribution.
In response, Pocketpair rolled out Patch v0.3.11 in November 2024, announcing the removal of the ball-throwing capture mechanic due to legal pressures. Further changes came with Patch v0.5.5, which took away Pal-based gliding and required players to use gliders instead. Pocketpair described these adjustments as “necessary compromises” to prevent a total shutdown.
Enter the Modding Community:
Just days after Patch v0.5.5 dropped, modders jumped right back in to revive the old mechanics. One standout submission on Nexus Mods by user Primarinabee, called the “Glider Restoration Mod,” brought back Pal-based gliding. This clever mod sidesteps the limitations of Patch v0.5.5 by reintroducing the previous functionality while still requiring players to have a glider in their inventory, ensuring it stays compatible with future updates.
The mod’s description playfully states: “Palworld Patch 0.5.5? What? That didn’t happen!” It’s already racked up hundreds of downloads, showcasing the modding community’s eagerness to keep the original gameplay alive.
While there’s another mod that aims to restore the throw-to-summon Pal mechanic, it misses the unique throw animation and simply brings a Pal into the player’s view instead.
Industry Reactions and Future Outlook:
At GDC 2025, Pocketpair’s John “Bucky” Buckley expressed his surprise over the lawsuit, noting that the studio hadn’t seen a patent conflict coming. He also touched on the allegations of AI misuse and model theft, many of which have since been publicly retracted or debunked.
However, the legal shadow hanging over Palworld is still significant. As modders keep the game’s original mechanics alive, there are lingering questions about how sustainable these efforts will be in light of ongoing legal battles.
Conclusion:
The Palworld saga serves as a powerful reminder of the tricky legal landscape game developers navigate when drawing inspiration from established franchises. As Pocketpair maneuvers through these legal challenges, the creativity of its community is keeping the essence of the game alive, one mod at a time.