In a recent official statement, The Pokemon Company has addressed the rising concerns surrounding Palworld, a survival game that has swiftly gained popularity with 8 million copies sold in less than six days. While not explicitly naming Palworld, the statement unmistakably addresses the game's immense success and the allegations of its Pals bearing striking resemblances to existing Pokemon.

"We have received numerous inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. 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 Pokemon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, working to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future."

Prior to this official response, Palworld developer Pocketpair maintained that its game draws more inspiration from titles like Ark Survival Evolved and Valheim than Pokemon. Despite claims of intellectual property infringement, Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, emphasized the team's commitment to creating games without encroaching on the intellectual property of others.

In an interview with Automaton, Mizobe clarified that the team had undergone legal scrutiny, and as of now, no legal action had been taken against the company for infringement. Nevertheless, the development team has faced a barrage of death threats since Palworld's launch on January 19.

The Pokemon Company has already initiated actions against modders replacing Palworld's Pals with Pokemon, and Nexus Mods has refrained from hosting Pokemon mods for Palworld, citing concerns about potential legal repercussions from Nintendo.

Despite the controversies, Palworld stands as an undeniable success. The clash between these two gaming giants is unfolding, leaving the gaming community eagerly awaiting the resolution of this intellectual property dispute.