Nintendo’s Lawsuit Halts Palworld’s PS5 Launch in Japan

The much-anticipated Palworld for PS5 was showcased during Sony’s recent State of Play, but its release in Japan has been put on hold. The game is currently available in 68 countries and regions, excluding Japan. According to an official post, this unexpected delay is due to ongoing legal issues.

Last week, Palworld’s developer Pocketpair faced a lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The lawsuit alleges multiple patent infringements by Palworld, which may have influenced the game’s uncertain release status in Japan. Despite this, Palworld will still be featured at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 where attendees can try out the PS5 version of the game.

In response to the legal action, Nintendo stated, “This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights..” Meanwhile, the official Palworld X account announced that there are no plans to halt or change the game’s operations. However, there is no clear reason provided for why the PS5 release in Japan is on hold.

For now, the Japanese release date remains uncertain. As we receive more information, we will make sure to inform you.