The Jaw-dropping Amount of Profit the Game Has Reportedly Made is Enough to Make Nintendo Jealous

Pocketpair’s game Palworld may be caught up in a legal battle with Nintendo, but that hasn’t slowed its incredible success. As of now, the popular survival game has grossed over an estimated $442 million, a staggering figure for a title with a development cost of only ¥1 billion (roughly $7 million).

This incredible figure has left many wondering if the lawsuit is an attempt by the gaming giant to protect its brand, or if it stems from jealousy over the success of an indie studio. Pocketpair’s community manager, John Buckley, expressed the team’s determination to move forward.

Palworld is Going To “March On,” According to Officials

Pocketpair’s defiant response to Nintendo’s lawsuit is noteworthy. The developer refuses to let the lawsuit derail their plans for the game’s future. In an interview with Game Rant, John “Bucky” Buckley, Pocketpair’s Global Community Manager, made it clear that the studio will “march on,” unfazed by the legal drama.

Regarding the Lawsuit

Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed against our company for patent infringement.

We have received notice of this lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement.

At this moment, we are unaware…

— Palworld (@Palworld_EN) September 19, 2024

The devs claim that they were blindsided by the lawsuit, having received no prior communication. While the exact infringement remains unclear, analysts speculate that it may involve Palworld’s creature-capturing mechanics, which resemble the one of the iconic Pokémon franchise.

The lawsuit hasn’t changed the game’s incredible success, and for good reason. Released in early 2024, the game has been one of 2024’s biggest and most unexpected hits. The game has an average of 20,000 concurrent players on Steam currently and also just came out for the PS5.

Do you think PalWorld can beat that Nintendo lawsuit? pic.twitter.com/nna8bbr7MB

— meme bastard (@mask_bastard) September 21, 2024

The game’s budget was surprisingly modest and it makes its financial accomplishments even more impressive. In fact, Pocketpair’s CEO Takuro Mizobe has publicly stated that they never intended to manage the game’s budget.

Mizobe’s unconventional approach to game development has paid off handsomely. He openly admitted that Palworld was supposed to be a smaller, quickly released title, built by a skeleton crew of four developers. And look where it is now.

The Devs Aren’t The Only Ones Looking Forward to the Future

While Palworld’s financial success is undeniable, the game has not been without its share of controversy. From allegations of plagiarism due to its similarities with Pokémon, to Nintendo’s aggressive lawsuit, the game’s rise to fame has been accompanied by legal scrutiny.

The person in this reddit post makes a great point! We need to repost this because Nintendo doing this to PalWorld is a massive red flag! pic.twitter.com/5Cx7mxGxRk

— Chaud Spieler DCL Happy Shantaember (@DCLChaudSpieler) September 19, 2024

The lawsuit brings a concern forward about how the company handles intellectual property disputes. These aggressive legal actions are protective of the company’s brand, it could stifle creativity in the gaming industry. And that’s not something that anyone is looking forward to.

Despite facing the wrath of Nintendo, the game continues to find success. The game’s profits place it among the top-grossing games of 2024. This impressive financial performance is likely to fuel Pocketpair’s determination to resist any legal efforts that threaten its creative vision.

If anything, this situation has only drawn more attention to the game, making it a poster child for indie game success. This free advertisement has placed Pocketpair as the underdog in a battle against a corporate giant.

What do you think the result of this lawsuit will be? Let us know in the comments!