The news comes as a Pokemon-inspired mod has been pulled down.
A former Pokemon Company legal head has deemed Palworld “the usual ripoff nonsense” and has remarked he’s “surprised it got this far”.
Those statements come from Don McGowan, who served as Chief Legal Officer at The Pokemon Company between 2008 to 2020.
“This looks like the usual ripoff nonsense that I would see a thousand times a year,” McGowan told GameFile. “I’m just surprised it got this far.”
McGowan’s statement comes at a time that Palworld’s first Pokemon-themed mod has surfaced… and already, been removed.
“Nintendo has come for me,” said YouTuber ToastedShoes, the creator of the mod. The user stated he’s removed the mod and associated content “in response to a report by the copyright owner.”
That aggressive stance by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company — the former has acknowledged Palworld‘s existence, though neither will comment further (potentially ahead of legal action) — has scared the likes of NexusMods from hosting any Palworld mods with a Pokemon theme.
“We do think that adding Pokémon content to Palworld is a very cool idea and we understand why people would want such a thing,” Nexus Mods’ Mathew Elliott told PCGamesN. “However, we’re not comfortable hosting this content.”
Update [26 January 2024]: The Pokemon Company has issued a larger statement regarding Palworld.
“We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024,” reads the company’s English translation of a statement in Japanese. “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. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.”
Palworld — described as “Pokemon with guns” — is currently in early access on Windows PC, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.
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