Palworld Modders Bring Back Features Removed by Nintendo, Pokémon Lawsuit

In a bold move, modders for the game *Palworld* have stepped in to restore gameplay mechanics that were removed by developer Pocketpair due to legal pressures from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. This action comes in the wake of Pocketpair's admission that recent patches to the game were necessitated by ongoing litigation.

*Palworld* hit the market with a splash earlier in 2024, launching on Steam for $30 and simultaneously on Xbox and PC via Game Pass. The game shattered sales records and boasted impressive concurrent player numbers. Amidst this success, Pocketpair's CEO Takuro Mizobe confessed that the scale of the profits was overwhelming for the company. Seizing the moment, Pocketpair inked a deal with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, aimed at expanding the franchise, which eventually led to a PS5 release.

The game's launch sparked inevitable comparisons to Pokémon, with some accusing Pocketpair of copying Pokémon designs. Rather than pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company opted for a patent lawsuit, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus late payment damages, and an injunction to halt *Palworld*'s distribution.

Pocketpair confirmed in November that it was being sued over three Japan-based patents related to the mechanics of capturing creatures in a virtual field. *Palworld* originally featured a mechanic similar to *Pokémon Legends: Arceus*, where players could capture monsters by throwing a Pal Sphere. However, following legal threats, Pocketpair made significant changes with Patch v0.3.11 in November 2024, which included altering the summoning of Pals from a throw-based mechanic to a static one beside the player.

In a subsequent update, Patch v0.5.5, Pocketpair further adjusted the game, changing the gliding mechanic from using Pals to requiring a separate glider item. These changes were described by Pocketpair as "compromises" made to avoid a potential injunction that could severely impact the game's development and sales.

Responding swiftly, modders have now restored the gliding mechanic with Primarinabee’s Glider Restoration mod, available on Nexus Mods. This mod, released on May 10 and already downloaded hundreds of times, aims to reverse the changes introduced by Patch v0.5.5. The mod description humorously denies the patch's existence, stating, "Palworld Patch 0.5.5? What? That didn't happen!" It explains that while players still need a glider in their inventory, the mod effectively brings back the ability to glide with Pals.

Another mod attempts to restore the throw-to-release mechanic for Pals, though it doesn't fully replicate the original experience, lacking the ball-throwing animation.

The future availability of these mods remains uncertain due to the ongoing legal battle. At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in March, John "Bucky" Buckley, communications director and publishing manager for Pocketpair, discussed the studio's challenges, including the patent lawsuit, which he described as a "shock" to the team.