If you follow video game news, you are likely aware of Palworld. It has emerged as a sensation in early 2024, having sold 8 million copies globally since its release on January 19 last year. Indeed, within less than a week of its launch, the game achieved this milestone despite being relatively unknown, surpassing titles like Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Starfield, and other well-established AAA games. However, how has Palworld managed to surprise the entire industry? Who are the developers behind it? Why is the game also embroiled in various controversies? Could there be a case of plagiarism involved? Regardless, The Pokémon Company has just issued a press release announcing an investigation into Palworld. Let’s delve into what appears to be the latest legal drama in video games and unravel all these issues.
In just six days, Palworld has achieved eight million sales, making it a genuine phenomenon and potentially the beginning of something larger. According to a Steam profile analysis conducted by Game Discover, China and the United States represent the largest portions of the game’s market, with 36.4% and 21.4%, respectively. This surpasses other countries such as Germany at 6%, France at 3.3%, Canada at 3%, and Japan at 2.5%. Currently, Palworld is available on PC and Xbox through the Xbox Game Pass, but most sales are concentrated on Steam. The platform has recently announced that Palworld now ranks among the top-played games on Steam, with over two million players connected simultaneously. Excluding PUBG and its peak of 3.2 million concurrent players, no game has outperformed Palworld on Steam to date.
War Declared?
Will Palworld maintain its momentum? There is uncertainty as The Pokémon Company has officially announced that it will investigate the production of the game developed by PocketPair and the numerous allegations of plagiarism surrounding it on social media. “We have received numerous inquiries about a game from another company released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in this game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate action to address any infringement of Pokémon-related intellectual property rights.”
On the official Japanese website of The Pokémon Company, there is information that may be a response to concerns raised by Pokémon fans regarding Palworld’s presence in their favorite game’s domain. It should be noted that Don McGowan, an ex-lawyer who previously worked for The Pokémon Company, has commented on the situation surrounding Palworld. He questions how such a project can exist, referring to Palworld as a typical scam, which he encountered approximately one thousand times annually when serving as the legal director at Pokémon. Furthermore, Don McGowan expresses surprise that a game so clearly resembling other works could progress this far and suggests it should be banned from sale, particularly concerning its “Shiny” creatures.
Some internet users have discovered evidence indicating that Palworld may have used 3D assets from Pokémon. According to developers interviewed on the subject, it is highly unlikely to accidentally replicate the proportions of multiple 3D models from the same game without intentionally using those specific models. These developers suggest that PocketPair might have utilized 3D models from Pokémon and modified them, which could account for the similarities observed.
PLAGIAT, TRIBUTE OR INSPIRATION?
Since its launch on January 19, 2024, Palworld has experienced daily discussions on social media, partly due to speculation that it uses generative AI. However, why is Palworld achieving such significant success? For many players, it represents the long-awaited Pokémon-style game with visual quality that meets modern platform standards. In contrast, recent Pokémon releases, particularly those opting for open-world formats, have faced criticism for their lackluster graphics and design, despite each title typically selling between 20 to 30 million copies over time. This situation does not appear to affect Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s approach but is increasingly leading players to feel dissatisfaction with the current direction.
Another factor contributing to Palworld’s significant success is its description as “Pokémon with guns.” While this comparison may hold true superficially, it does not fully capture the essence of the game. In reality, Palworld shares more similarities with ARK: Survival Evolved but features Pokémon-themed elements. The core gameplay involves capturing and taming creatures known as Pals using small balls and then utilizing them to enhance players’ bases by having the Pals work in factories to produce resources and manufacture weapons essential for survival in this hostile world. Palworld supports up to 31 players on a single server, which is another aspect that has contributed to its popularity.
Meanwhile, Palworld remains the leading topic in the video game sector at the beginning of 2024, and this advertisement only increases its popularity, adding a million sales per day since its release less than a week ago. The industry giants are pleased, as it has already secured a place on Xbox via its Game Pass from the day of launch, while Sony is currently in negotiations for a PS5 port. In summary, one thing is certain: we’re not done hearing about Palworld.
