Pokémon to take 'appropriate measures' following release of survival game 'Palworld'
The Pokémon Company said it intends to investigate and take appropriate measures against copyright infringement—on the heels of a Japanese developer releasing an action-adventure survival game that allegedly copied it.
In a statement posted on its website, Pokémon said it has “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 said.
Pokémon didn’t explicitly mention any title, but Japanese developer Pocket Pair released an early access version of Palworld on Jan. 18.
The open world game is populated with animal-like creatures called “Pals,” which players capture and battle with as they build their bases, weapons, structures, and decorations.
Palworld players capture and battle with the titular animal-like creatures as the story progresses.
“We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon,” The Pokémon Company said.
“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,” it added.
Pocketpair, meanwhile, has denied claims that it copied Pokémon, insisting that its game was inspired by survival games Ark: Survival Evolved and Vanaheim, according to gaming news website IGN.
Ahead of Pokémon’s statement, the company said it also underwent legal reviewing and that there had been no action taken against it for alleged copyright infringement.
Since its video game took the world by storm, Pokémon spawned a media franchise that includes anime series, movies, merchandise, and trading cards.
