Palworld Creator Drops Surprise Game Amidst Legal Battle

Pocketpair's Surprise Nintendo Switch Release Amidst Legal Battle

Pocketpair, the developer embroiled in a lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, unexpectedly launched its 2019 title, OverDungeon, on the Nintendo eShop. This action-card game, blending tower defense and roguelike elements, marks Pocketpair's first Nintendo Switch release.

The launch, announced without prior warning on January 9th, coincided with a 50% discount lasting until January 24th. This move, coming amidst the ongoing legal dispute over Palworld, has sparked online speculation. Palworld, accused of patent infringement related to its creature-capturing mechanics, is available on PS5 and Xbox, making Pocketpair's choice to debut OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop particularly noteworthy.

The Palworld lawsuit, filed in September 2024, alleges infringement of Pokémon's creature-capturing patents due to similarities between Palworld's Pal Spheres and Poké Balls. Despite the controversy, Palworld received a major update in December, boosting its concurrent Steam player count. Pocketpair has maintained that the situation is unfortunate but pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.

This isn't Pocketpair's first brush with comparisons to Nintendo titles. Their 2020 RPG, Craftopia, drew considerable visual comparisons to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite the ongoing Palworld legal issues, Craftopia continues to receive updates, and Palworld itself remains actively supported with ongoing promotion, including a collaboration with Terraria that will continue into 2025.

The legal battle between Pocketpair, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company remains largely silent, with some legal experts predicting a potentially lengthy process. Beyond the Terraria crossover, Pocketpair has hinted at further Palworld developments in 2025, including a Mac port and a possible mobile release. The release of OverDungeon on the Nintendo Switch adds another layer of intrigue to this unfolding story.