Palworld, the viral "Pokémon-with-guns" sensation, has been a hotbed of controversy since its launch, and now it's officially locked in a patent battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Developer Pocketpair recently fired back with a legal rebuttal, arguing that the game's creature-catching mechanics are nothing new and that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company don't hold exclusive rights to them.
Reports indicate that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company first sued Pocketpair in 2023, alleging infringement on three patents covering core mechanics like monster capture, control methods, and item throwing. These patents were filed between February and July 2023, while Palworld hit shelves in January 2024.
In its latest legal filing, Pocketpair cited a slew of older games to prove its gameplay isn't exactly groundbreaking. This includes their own previous title, "Craftopia," along with "Rune Factory 5," "Titanfall 2," and "Pikmin 3," all of which feature mechanics for "releasing monsters or items and throwing them in a specific direction." These examples directly counter one of Nintendo's patents concerning throwing capture spheres to catch creatures.
The report further highlights that games like "Pikmin 3," "Far Cry 5," and "Tomb Raider" have long showcased various types of throwable items. Moreover, titles such as "Monster Super League," "Octopath Traveler," "Final Fantasy XIV," and "Cryptract" offer features like target selection and displaying capture success rates, further undermining Nintendo's patent claims on these elements.
Pocketpair even brought up "Monster Hunter 4G" and the "Nukamon" mod from "Fallout" as evidence that creature taming and combat systems have a long history.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are each seeking 5 million JPY (approximately 1 million TWD) in damages, plus interest for delayed payments. Pocketpair's legal team, however, firmly asserts that these patents should never have been granted in the first place, emphasizing the significant impact this lawsuit could have on the entire gaming industry.
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via： games fray