In an ironic turn of events, a game that closely resembles the survival crafting hit Palworld has appeared on the Nintendo eShop. This comes as Nintendo continues its legal battle against Palworld’s developer, Pocketpair. The new game, titled Palland and developed by BoggySoft, is now available for sale. It works with both the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2 due to backward compatibility. The timing of this release is especially significant, given Nintendo’s high-profile lawsuit against Pocketpair for alleged plagiarism of the Pokémon IP.
Palland’s eShop page shows many similarities to Palworld, from its distinctive red-haired main character to its creature designs. The game’s trailer and description reinforce these comparisons, emphasizing gameplay features that echo Palworld’s successful formula. Players can be seen collecting resources, crafting items, and fighting unique creatures. The addition of base-building, exploration, and survival mechanics suggests direct inspiration from Pocketpair’s breakthrough title. This similarity has not gone unnoticed by the gaming community, highlighting a curious contradiction in Nintendo’s current approach.
While Pocketpair’s Palworld launched successfully in January 2024, attracting millions of players, its popularity caught the attention of Nintendo, a co-owner of the Pokémon intellectual property. This led to a lawsuit from Nintendo that claims plagiarism. The suit has sparked considerable discussion within the industry. Just last month, the case experienced a new development when Nintendo reportedly modified a key patent relevant to the situation. This unusual move highlights the seriousness of the dispute. Now, the approval of a lookalike game on Nintendo’s own storefront adds an unexpected twist to the ongoing legal saga.
The launch of Palland on the eShop, priced at a discounted $3.99, raises questions about the precedent Nintendo is establishing. While Palworld clones have appeared elsewhere, this is the first instance of one gaining traction and receiving official support from a first-party storefront. The situation presents an interesting duality: Nintendo is vigorously defending its intellectual property rights in one area, while, in another, it is promoting a product that many believe is a direct imitation of the very game it is suing. The gaming community will watch closely to see if Pocketpair responds to Palland and whether its availability on the eShop affects the outcome of the court case.
