Nintendo’s lawsuit against Palworld may already be having an impact, as the survival game has altered how players summon its distinctively not Pokémon creatures.
In patch notes released on November 29, it was revealed that monsters in Palworld will no longer be summoned by aiming and throwing Pal Spheres. Instead, they will now materialize alongside players when called.
Palworld officially launched on January 19 after years of teasers showcasing its unique blend of open-world exploration, featuring monsters that could be ridden, armed with AK-47s, and forced into labor in weapons factories. The game’s quirky premise and availability on Xbox Game Pass generated significant attention early on. However, it also caught the eye of Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, which filed a lawsuit against developer Pocketpair in September 2024 for patent infringement.
The lawsuit focused on mechanics such as throwing Poké Ball-like devices and riding creatures, both of which are patented by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company in Japan. Following the lawsuit, Pocketpair expanded Palworld’s availability to PlayStation 5 and mobile platforms outside Japan. However, the changes to its summoning mechanics in the November 29 update suggest the studio may be seeking to avoid prolonged legal entanglements.
Palworld is slated to make an appearance at The Game Awards on December 12, although it has not received any nominations.
