In a statement, the Pokemon Company said it intends to investigate Palworld

On Thursday, The Pokemon Company clarified that it has not authorized any other company, specifically referring to the rapidly popular Palworld developer, Pocketpair, to utilize Pokemon intellectual property or assets. The company stated its intention to conduct an investigation and take necessary actions against the fast-growing survival game operator.

In its first official acknowledgment of Palworld’s rapidly growing survival title, The Pokemon Company revealed that the game, developed by Pocketpair, has surpassed 8 million copies sold in less than six days—a remarkable achievement, outperforming even some of the most popular AAA titles. However, Palworld has been generating controversy due to perceived plagiarism and an unmistakable resemblance to Pokemon, drawing criticism from fans of the renowned Japanese franchise.

Despite the accusations, Palworld’s unique blend of monster collecting, automation, and survival/crafting mechanics has resonated with players. The game, available on Steam for PCs and Xbox, taps into the demand for a modern take on the monster-taming genre—a domain pioneered by Pokemon but arguably lacking significant innovation over the years. Whether driven by a genuine interest in the genre’s evolution or a desire to express dissatisfaction with Nintendo, the primary distributor of Pokemon games, gamers have been drawn to Palworld for its fresh perspective.

Pocketpair, the developer that launched Palworld on January 19, has defended its creation by asserting that the game bears more resemblance to titles like Ark Survival than to Pokemon. Takuro Mizobe, Pocketpair’s chief executive, recently expressed concern over the team receiving slanderous comments and apparent “death threats” on social media.

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In response to the controversy, The Pokemon Company stated on its website, stating, “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. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each Pokémon and its world and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.”

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