“They’re scared that Palworld is getting more successful”: Pokémon Threatening Legal Action Against Palworld Over Viral Mod Doesn’t Sit Well With Fans
Matthew Sanders
Updated on April 03, 2026
Palworld, the recently released action-adventure game by Japanese developer company Pocket Pair has made a lot of noise since its release and has managed to sell to around 8 million companies in only 6 days of early access. It also reached two million concurrent players on Steam, making it the second-highest-played game of all time on the platform.
Animal-like beings known as “Pals” populate the game’s open world. Pals can be used by the players for base construction, exploration, and combat after they are defeated in battle and captured. First revealed in 2021, it was made available for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S for early access in January 2024. Palworld can be played solo or online with up to 32 players on a single server.
However, the main reason the game is gaining such popularity is because it has been given the nickname “Pokémon with guns” which suggests that the game is a parody or a spin-off of the popular franchise Pokémon and not its own game. This has led to the franchise threatening legal action against Palworld, but the fans are not okay with the Pokémon company’s decisions.
Pokémon Company Made a Statement About Palworld
The official Pokémon company’s website, after a few days of the release of Palworld, issued a statement about Palworld and how they feel like they are imitating the franchise’s game. They stated that they have not granted any kind of permission to any other company to use their property and assets for their use.
The statement read:
“We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon.”
Pokémon has also explained that they intend to investigate the matter and if necessary will take legal and appropriate steps and adopt the necessary actions to address any violations of their related intellectual property rights. However, this has not sat well with fans who started enjoying the game Palworld too much.
Fans Are Not Happy with Pokémon Threatening Legal Action Against Palworld
The news about Pokémon taking necessary and legal actions against Palworld immediately reached X(Formerly Twitter) and was met with huge disappointment from fans. They did not appreciate the step that Pokémon was going to take against Palworld.
The fans have started loving the game and think that the reason Pokémon is taking such steps is that they are afraid that the game is gaining more popularity and traction than their version.
The Pokemon Company has made a statement about Palworld:
“We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate…
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 25, 2024
They’re Scared that Palword is getting more successful
— Chombe (@Chombe1080) January 25, 2024
I personally wouldn’t use the words “cherish and nurture” to describe diluting and tarnishing the legacy of something with low quality products for the sake of profit.
Get out of here, their game is in Early Access and plays better than your latest “finished product”
— Matt Dowse (@mattdowse) January 25, 2024
Tatakai Palworld-san
— Ɐ (@DEAADSEAA) January 25, 2024
Nintendo should be thinking about collabing with these devs instead of trying to take them down. Maybe they will finally make something different for the first time in decades
— Drew (@DrewIValle) January 25, 2024
Pokemon fans and the company itself are a bunch of sore losers. They only did this because Palworld is the most successful game right now.
— maruseru (@mrgtclaudio) January 25, 2024
While fans are not happy with Nintendo and Pokémon’s decisions, they have openly criticized the company for taking such actions against a game that is being loved and appreciated so much by the fans. However, legal action will only proceed if they manage to prove that Palworld has been using their intellectual property for their benefit.
