Palworld Modders Restore Axed Pokémon-Like Features

Palworld modders are stepping up to restore gameplay features that developer Pocketpair had to remove following Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's patent lawsuit.

Pocketpair recently confirmed that updates to the game were necessary due to ongoing legal action from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

Launched in early 2024 at $30 on Steam and simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Palworld shattered sales records and player counts. Studio head Takuro Mizobe admitted the game's overwhelming success left them struggling to manage its massive earnings. Capitalizing on this momentum, Pocketpair partnered with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, focusing on expanding the franchise before releasing a PS5 version.

Following Palworld's explosive debut, comparisons to Pokémon sparked accusations of design plagiarism. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for patent litigation instead of copyright claims, seeking ¥5 million (≈$32,846) each plus damages and potentially blocking Palworld's distribution.

November 2024 saw Pocketpair acknowledge three Japanese patents concerning creature capture mechanics—similar to Palworld's Pal Sphere system that mirrored Pokémon Legends: Arceus' approach.

Six months later, Patch v0.3.11 confirmed player suspicions by replacing thrown Pal Sphere summons with stationary spawns—among other altered mechanics—to avoid worsening gameplay, according to Pocketpair.

Last week's v0.5.5 update mandated glider equipment for aerial movement, though Pals still enhance gliding passively. The studio framed these as reluctant compromises to prevent a potential sales injunction.

Modders responded swiftly—Primarinabee's Glider Restoration mod on Nexus Mods effectively nullified the glider requirement within a week, playfully dismissing the update: "Palworld Patch 0.5.5? What? That didn't happen!" The mod maintains future update compatibility while reinstating Pal-assisted flight.

While a throw-to-summit mod exists, it lacks the original throwing animation. The legality of these mods remains uncertain as litigation continues.

At March's GDC, IGN interviewed John "Bucky" Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director, following his candid talk addressing AI allegations (since disproven) and retracted model theft claims. He revealed Nintendo's lawsuit caught the studio completely off guard, calling it an unforeseen challenge.