The surprise announcement during Sony’s State of Play stream that Palworld, a highly anticipated game, is now available for PlayStation 5 has been met with mixed reactions. Described as “Pokémon with guns,” Palworld has been a massive success, selling over a million copies in just eight hours and reaching over 25 million players within a month.
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However, the game’s popularity has been overshadowed by legal troubles. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo have filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, alleging patent infringement. The lawsuit seeks an injunction against further development and compensation for damages.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Palworld’s PS5 version is now available in 68 countries and regions worldwide, excluding Japan. The release date for the Japanese market has yet to be determined.
Pocketpair has defended itself against the allegations, claiming that Palworld “cleared legal reviews” and that they will take appropriate legal action to address the patent infringement claims.
The timing of Palworld’s PS5 release is less than ideal given the ongoing legal dispute. While the game is available for purchase, there is a risk that it could be forced to shut down in the future if the lawsuit is successful.
