Palworld: Concerns arise in Japan amidst Pokémon collaboration fears

Palworld: A Sensation with Millions of Players Worldwide

The survival crafting game, Palworld, has taken the gaming world by storm. With over 19 million players globally, Palworld has successfully established itself as an overnight sensation. However, the game has faced some apprehensions in its home turf – Pokémon’s homeland, Japan.

Concealing Palworld: Talent Agencies At The Behest of Pokémon

Following the release of an official statement by The Pokémon Company last week, Japanese entertainment professionals have reportedly received instructions from talent agencies to refrain from mentioning Palworld due to concerns over potential collaborations with Pokémon in the future. According to Tokyo Sports, a talent agency source revealed that the decision was made out of consideration for The Pokémon Company as an agency, and to avoid any negative repercussions.

Palworld Remains In Shadows Despite Overwhelming Popularity

The Pokémon Company’s statement, though not explicitly mentioning Palworld, addresses it as “another company’s game released in January 2024”. The statement emphasizes that no permission was granted for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in Palworld and the company intends to take appropriate action against any infringement of its IP rights related to Pokémon.

Surprising Success: The Pokémon Company Alumni’s Testimony

In a surprising revelation, The Pokémon Company’s former Chief Legal Officer, Don McGowan, expressed his astonishment at Palworld’s success. Meanwhile, Nintendo has acknowledged the game’s existence, choosing not to comment on individual cases.

Microsoft’s Support and Palworld’s Game Pass Triumph

Despite the controversy surrounding Palworld, Xbox has stepped forward to provide support to the game’s developers. Xbox will be assisting with dedicated servers, game optimization, and ensuring smoother updates for players.

Moreover, Palworld has garnered immense popularity on Xbox’s Game Pass subscription service. As the biggest third-party launch title ever on Game Pass, the game has been experienced by over 7 million Xbox players since its Game Preview debut in January.

With Palworld’s ever-growing success and its footprint on the gaming landscape, any further developments will be closely monitored.

Sources

[Source: tokyo-sports.co.jp, videogameschronicle.com]