Palworld Surprises with New Switch Game Amid Lawsuit

Pocketpair's Surprise Nintendo Switch Release Amidst Legal Battle

Pocketpair, the developer embroiled in a legal dispute with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, unexpectedly launched its 2019 title, OverDungeon, on the Nintendo eShop. This action card game, blending tower defense and roguelike elements, marks Pocketpair's first Nintendo Switch release.

The launch, announced without prior warning, coincided with a 50% discount celebrating the game's Nintendo Switch debut, running until January 24th. This move follows months of controversy surrounding Palworld, Pocketpair's popular monster-collecting game, which is currently facing a lawsuit alleging patent infringement of Pokémon's creature-capturing mechanics.

The September 2024 lawsuit, filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, alleges that Palworld's "Pal Spheres" infringe on Pokémon's patented systems. While Pocketpair has acknowledged the situation, the ongoing legal proceedings haven't stopped the company from releasing significant updates for Palworld (including a December update boosting concurrent Steam players) or making this surprising Nintendo eShop debut.

The decision to release OverDungeon on the Nintendo Switch, rather than other platforms where Palworld is available (PS5 and Xbox), has sparked speculation online. Some suggest it's a strategic response to the ongoing lawsuit.

A History of Comparisons

OverDungeon isn't the first Pocketpair game to draw comparisons to Nintendo titles. Craftopia, released in 2020, bears a striking resemblance to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite this, Craftopia continues to receive regular updates on Steam. Meanwhile, Palworld, despite the lawsuit, remains actively supported with ongoing updates, including a planned Terraria crossover (already featuring a new "Meowmeow" Pal) and future plans for a Mac and potentially mobile release.

The legal battle between Pocketpair, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company remains largely unresolved, with patent experts suggesting a prolonged legal process if a settlement isn't reached. Despite the uncertainty, Pocketpair's continued development and release of new games, like OverDungeon, demonstrate a proactive approach to navigating the current situation.