Krafton, the developer of the upcoming Palworld Mobile, is now facing legal risks due to a lawsuit between Nintendo and Pocket Pair, the studio behind the original Palworld. The lawsuit could potentially disrupt the development and release of Palworld Mobile, depending on the outcome.
The issue arose after Krafton officially announced its involvement in the mobile adaptation of Palworld on September 14, via a job posting. Krafton stated its intention to optimize the massive open-world survival and crafting system of Palworld for mobile play, preserving the original’s core gameplay while enhancing the experience for mobile users.
Just days later, on September 19, Nintendo, in conjunction with The Pokémon Company, filed a lawsuit against Pocket Pair, accusing the studio of patent infringement. Palworld has faced criticism for its similarities to Pokémon, particularly in the design of its creatures, called “Pals,” and its capture mechanics. Although Palworld was released in early access in January, concerns about potential intellectual property (IP) violations surfaced immediately, prompting Nintendo to issue a public statement warning of legal action.
In response, Pocket Pair expressed regret, stating that although they had received legal notice from Nintendo, they were not informed of which specific patents were allegedly infringed. Pocket Pair voiced frustration at having to divert time away from game development to address the legal dispute.
Courtesy of Nintendo, Krafton
Krafton, now caught between the two companies, is in a precarious position. The company has been no stranger to legal risks in the gaming industry. Currently, Krafton is also monitoring the ongoing lawsuit between Nexon and Ironmace over the Dark and Darker game, which shares similarities to a Krafton project. In that case, Krafton has indicated it will await the lawsuit's outcome as a neutral third party.
However, the Palworld lawsuit presents a different challenge. Should Nintendo win the lawsuit against Pocket Pair, Krafton could find itself in a difficult situation if its contract to develop Palworld Mobile includes direct elements from the original game that infringe on Nintendo’s patents. This could lead to a potential halt in development.
Alternatively, if Krafton’s approach to Palworld Mobile mirrors its handling of Dark and Darker Mobile, where the company adapted its mobile extraction RPG with elements from Dark and Darker, the outcome might be different. If Krafton has only acquired licensing rights from Pocket Pair without directly utilizing infringing elements, they could argue that no patent violations have occurred. However, the controversy and public perception could still negatively affect Krafton’s image.
When asked about the legal implications of the Nintendo-Pocket Pair lawsuit, a representative from Krafton stated, “We are actively pursuing the development of IPs with the potential to bring joy to gamers worldwide. We will address any issues that arise during this process through appropriate legal measures.” The company refrained from further elaboration on what specific legal actions might be taken.
Sayart / Jack Lee, wangjb77@gmail.com
Courtesy of Krafton
Krafton, the developer of the upcoming Palworld Mobile, is now facing legal risks due to a lawsuit between Nintendo and Pocket Pair, the studio behind the original Palworld. The lawsuit could potentially disrupt the development and release of Palworld Mobile, depending on the outcome.
The issue arose after Krafton officially announced its involvement in the mobile adaptation of Palworld on September 14, via a job posting. Krafton stated its intention to optimize the massive open-world survival and crafting system of Palworld for mobile play, preserving the original’s core gameplay while enhancing the experience for mobile users.
Just days later, on September 19, Nintendo, in conjunction with The Pokémon Company, filed a lawsuit against Pocket Pair, accusing the studio of patent infringement. Palworld has faced criticism for its similarities to Pokémon, particularly in the design of its creatures, called “Pals,” and its capture mechanics. Although Palworld was released in early access in January, concerns about potential intellectual property (IP) violations surfaced immediately, prompting Nintendo to issue a public statement warning of legal action.
In response, Pocket Pair expressed regret, stating that although they had received legal notice from Nintendo, they were not informed of which specific patents were allegedly infringed. Pocket Pair voiced frustration at having to divert time away from game development to address the legal dispute.
Courtesy of Nintendo, Krafton
Krafton, now caught between the two companies, is in a precarious position. The company has been no stranger to legal risks in the gaming industry. Currently, Krafton is also monitoring the ongoing lawsuit between Nexon and Ironmace over the Dark and Darker game, which shares similarities to a Krafton project. In that case, Krafton has indicated it will await the lawsuit's outcome as a neutral third party.
However, the Palworld lawsuit presents a different challenge. Should Nintendo win the lawsuit against Pocket Pair, Krafton could find itself in a difficult situation if its contract to develop Palworld Mobile includes direct elements from the original game that infringe on Nintendo’s patents. This could lead to a potential halt in development.
Alternatively, if Krafton’s approach to Palworld Mobile mirrors its handling of Dark and Darker Mobile, where the company adapted its mobile extraction RPG with elements from Dark and Darker, the outcome might be different. If Krafton has only acquired licensing rights from Pocket Pair without directly utilizing infringing elements, they could argue that no patent violations have occurred. However, the controversy and public perception could still negatively affect Krafton’s image.
When asked about the legal implications of the Nintendo-Pocket Pair lawsuit, a representative from Krafton stated, “We are actively pursuing the development of IPs with the potential to bring joy to gamers worldwide. We will address any issues that arise during this process through appropriate legal measures.” The company refrained from further elaboration on what specific legal actions might be taken.
