The patent infringement lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company against Pocketpair's "Palworld" continues to unfold, but comments from former Capcom game designer Yoshiki Okamoto have unexpectedly sparked a major online debate. 
On his YouTube channel, Okamoto directly stated that "Palworld" "crossed a line that shouldn't be crossed" and urged players not to purchase it, drawing widespread criticism from netizens.
Yoshiki Okamoto, currently the chairman of the Japan Game Culture Foundation, has a storied career, having contributed to renowned titles such as "Street Fighter II: The World Warrior," the original "Resident Evil," and the mobile game "Monster Strike."
On September 27, 2025, he weighed in on the Nintendo vs. Pocketpair lawsuit, declaring: "This game is unacceptable while it's being sued. Playing it means supporting it, so please don't buy it." In the video, he went further, describing Pocketpair as "anti-○○," muting the final character. Most viewers interpreted this as "anti-social," implying criminal or unlawful entities. 
These remarks immediately ignited controversy, with many commentators pointing out that labeling Pocketpair as "anti-social forces" could constitute defamation.
One netizen commented that while the argument "don't support controversial games" was persuasive, they decided to stop playing "Monster Strike" after nearly 20 years due to their dissatisfaction with Okamoto's statements. Others directly countered: "It's a flawed inference to think it's bad just because it's being sued," and "No matter how much you dislike 'Palworld,' calling it anti-social is truly crossing the line."
▼The number of dislikes has surpassed likes
Okamoto also admitted that he had never actually played "Palworld," emphasizing his "anti-Palworld" stance but acknowledging that fans still enjoy it. He further expressed concern that if Pocketpair wins the lawsuit and successfully launches the full version, it might legitimize infringement due to the game's positive reception, potentially impacting the creative safety of other Nintendo series like "Mario" and "Zelda," especially in the era of generative AI.
However, many netizens retorted that borrowing elements between games is a common practice, and even works Okamoto participated in, such as "Street Fighter II" and "Monster Strike," have been perceived as borrowing from other game elements. His mention of AI was also criticized for potentially fueling debunked rumors that "Palworld" was developed using generative AI.
The lawsuit between Nintendo and Pocketpair began in September 2024, focusing on three patents, including monster capturing, releasing, and riding systems. Pocketpair recently announced that "Palworld" will launch its official 1.0 version in 2026 and unveiled a new title, "Palworld: Palfarm," setting up direct competition with Nintendo's new game, "Pokémon Pokopia."
via： IGN