Palworld Makes Another Change to Game Features Due to Nintendo Legal Battle

Palworld developer Pocketpair has announced new changes to its popular game because of an ongoing legal fight with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

In a statement released on May 8, 2025, the company explained that they must change how players glide in the game.

Starting with Patch v0.5.5, players will need to use a glider item instead of riding on their Pals to glide through the air. Players will still get bonuses from their Pals when gliding, but must now have a glider in their inventory to use this feature.

"We understand that this will be disappointing for many, just as it is for us, but we hope our fans understand that these changes are necessary in order to prevent further disruptions to the development of Palworld," Pocketpair wrote in their official statement shared on social media.

This isn't the first time Pocketpair has changed the game because of legal pressure. Last November, they released Patch v0.3.11, which removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pal Spheres. Instead, Pals now simply appear next to the player in a static animation. The company has now confirmed what many players suspected – these changes were indeed made because of the legal battle with Nintendo.

According to Pocketpair, if they hadn't made these adjustments, "the alternative would have led to an even greater deterioration of the gameplay experience for players." This suggests the company might be trying to avoid more serious consequences, like having their game removed from stores.

Despite these forced changes, Pocketpair has clarified that flying in the game remains unaffected. Players can still ride their dragon-type Pals to move through the air.

Palworld became incredibly popular after its release in January 2024, with over two million people playing at the same time on Steam during its peak. However, the game quickly faced criticism for similarities to Pokémon, with some accusing the developers of copying Pokémon designs.

Rather than filing a copyright lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company chose to pursue patent infringement claims. They are seeking 5 million yen (about $32,846) each plus late payment damages. More importantly, they want an injunction that could potentially block Palworld's development and distribution.

The patents in question relate to catching creatures in a virtual field, similar to mechanics seen in Pokémon games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Palworld features a similar system where players throw "Pal Spheres" to capture creatures in the open world.

In their filing, Pocketpair said they continue to dispute these claims and believe the patents are invalid. However, they felt compelled to make these "compromises" to ensure they could continue developing the game without major disruptions.

Despite these challenges, Pocketpair reassured fans they remain "committed to developing Palworld" and delivering exciting new content to fans.