Pokemon to ‘investigate’ Palworld over copycat claims


The Pokemon Company warned on Jan 25, 2024 it plans to investigate reports that the new hit video game ‘Palworld’ violates the intellectual copyright of its iconic franchise. — AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: The Pokemon Company warned on Jan 25 it plans to investigate reports that the new hit video game Palworld violates the intellectual copyright of its iconic franchise.

Widely described as “Pokemon with Guns” when it was released last week, the makers of Palworld said it sold more than eight million copies in less than six days.

Released on the online Steam platform, Palworld blends weapon-wielding player avatars with monsters that look eerily similar to those in the wildly popular Pokemon franchise, part-owned by by Nintendo.

“We have received many inquiries regarding another company's game released in January 2024,” the Pokemon Company said in a statement.

“We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokemon intellectual property or assets in that game,” it added, without referring to Palworld by name.

The company said it intends to “investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokemon”.

As of now Palworld is in early-access mode and still being developed, with the help of feedback from players, its creators, Japan-based PocketPair, said in describing its new game.

The game is home to more than 100 different characters – called “Pals” – that players can capture and turn into allies for adventures in the game, according to its creators.

As the game went viral, some on social media accused PocketPair of copying from Pokemon, posting images of very similar-looking characters and features from the game and the franchise.

PocketPair's CEO Takuro Mizobe said the company was “receiving slanderous comments against our artists, and we are seeing tweets that appear to be death threats”. – AFP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

Four Russians arrested in Phobos ransomware crackdown, Europol says
US, UK, Australia target Russia-based Zservers over Lockbit ransomware attacks
GlobalFoundries forecasts weak Q1 amid tariff concerns and smartphone sector struggles
Quantum computing startup QuEra closes $230 million funding round
Exclusive-LVMH media unit refrains from lawsuit against Musk-owned X, sources say
US, Britain have not signed Paris AI summit declaration
Binance, SEC request pause in legal battle as Trump's crypto policy takes shape
Shopify profit outlook underwhelms even as holiday sales top estimates
Quotes from US Vice President JD Vance's AI speech in Paris
EU's AI push to get 50 billion euro boost, EU's von der Leyen says

Others Also Read