Palworld Games Face Changes Amid Nintendo Lawsuit
The removal of the gliding feature and other changes to Palworld's mechanics are a result of Nintendo's efforts to protect its patents. The lawsuit has significant implications for the game's development and distribution, and Pocketpair's commitment to developing the game despite the challenges is a testament to the studio's dedication to its fans.
The popular survival game Palworld has been forced to remove its gliding feature, which allowed players to use Pals as gliders, due to a patent lawsuit filed by Nintendo. The game's developers, Pocketpair, have made significant changes to the game's mechanics in response to the lawsuit, including requiring players to have a glider in their inventory to glide.
The lawsuit, which also involves The Pokémon Company, alleges that Palworld's mechanics, such as throwing a ball-like object to capture creatures, infringe on Pokémon's patents. Pocketpair has released patches, including v0.3.11 and v0.5.5, that have altered gameplay mechanics to comply with the lawsuit's demands. The studio has removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pal Spheres and replaced it with a static summon, and has also changed the gliding mechanic to use a glider instead of Pals.
Nintendo has a history of aggressively enforcing its patents, including a patent that prevented the use of minigames in loading screens. The public perception of Nintendo's actions is poor, but the company has yet to face significant consequences. Pocketpair is committed to developing Palworld despite the challenges posed by the lawsuits, and the game's fans are being kept updated on the situation.
The changes to Palworld are part of a larger effort to avoid disruptions to the game's development and distribution. Pocketpair has apologized for the changes, stating that they are necessary to prevent further disruptions and have expressed their understanding of the disappointment among players. The game's development is ongoing, and the changes are expected to continue in the future.