Pokemon Company to Conduct Investigation into Palworld Allegations

The Pokemon Company said Thursday it has not granted any permission to “another company,” referring to Palworld-developer Pocketpair, to use Pokemon intellectual property or assets and “intends to investigate and take appropriate measures” against the fast-growing survival game operator. The statement is Pokemon Company’s first acknowledgement of Palworld’s fast-growing survival title, which has sold over 8 million copies in less than six days, exceeding the performance of even the most popular AAA titles. Pocketpair, which released the title on January 19, insisted earlier that its game had more resemblance to a title such as Ark Survival than Pokemon. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that gamem,” The Pokemon Company wrote in a statement on its website Thursday. “We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon.

The Pokemon Company has firmly stated that they have not given permission to any other company, specifically Palworld-developer Pocketpair, to use their beloved intellectual property and assets. They also made it clear that they will not hesitate to take action against the quickly growing survival game operator.

The statement, released on Thursday, is the first official acknowledgement by The Pokemon Company of the popularity of Palworld’s survival game. In just under six days, the game has sold over 8 million copies, surpassing even the success of well-known AAA titles. As reported by TechCrunch, Palworld has been recognized as an indisputable copy of the popular franchise, yet it has managed to capture players’ attention with its unique combination of monster collecting, automation, and survival and crafting mechanics.

What sets Palworld apart is its ability to tap into the demand for a modern take on the monster taming genre, a niche that many argue was pioneered by Pokemon but has remained stagnant. Whether players are genuinely intrigued or simply want to express their frustration with Nintendo’s lack of innovation, Palworld has become a top choice for gamers seeking a fresh perspective.

While Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, claims that their game bears more resemblance to titles like Ark Survival than Pokemon, The Pokemon Company has made it clear that they have not authorized the use of their intellectual property or assets in this game. In fact, Pocketpair’s CEO Takuro Mizobe stated earlier this week that they have been dealing with negative and even threatening comments towards their team.

“We have received numerous inquiries about another company’s game released in January 2024. We want to make it clear that we have not given any consent for the use of Pokemon intellectual property or assets in this game,” The Pokemon Company stated on their website.

They also added, “We take this matter seriously and will take necessary actions to address any potential infringement on our intellectual property rights related to Pokemon. We will continue to cherish and cultivate each and every Pokemon and its world, as we work towards bringing people together through this beloved franchise in the future.”

Stay tuned for updates as this situation unfolds.