Krafton Partners with Pocketpair to Bring Palworld to Mobile Amidst Ongoing Nintendo Lawsuit

Krafton has signed an agreement with Japanese game studio Pocketpair to develop the mobile version of Palworld. A press release from Krafton reveals the company’s latest move to expand its portfolio by acquiring a licensing agreement for Palworld’s intellectual property (IP). The announcement comes at a time when Pocketpair is embroiled in a lawsuit with Nintendo over alleged intellectual property infringements related to Palworld’s creature designs.

According to the press release, Krafton plans to “faithfully reinterpret and implement the original’s main fun elements to fit the mobile environment.” PUBG STUDIOS, the creative division of Krafton, will develop the mobile version of Palworld. Krafton is the developer behind the global sensation PUBG, which solidifies its expertise in crafting successful mobile experiences.

Palworld’s Global Success and Controversy

Palworld has garnered considerable success since its release on PC and Xbox, amassing over 25 million players worldwide. In January, the game also reached over 2 million concurrent players on Steam. 

Despite its success, Palworld has not been without controversy. Many fans have dubbed the game ‘Pokémon with guns’ ahead of its release. Palworld made its debut on the PlayStation 5 in September 2024. However, the game was not launched on PS5 in Japan. Sony and Pocketpair have not commented on why Japan was skipped during the release on September 25, 2024. This can be attributed to Nintendo’s lawsuit against Pocketpair. 

Nintendo is currently taking legal action against Pocketpair over alleged infringement of multiple patent rights. The company asserts that several “Pals” in Pocketpair’s game bear a striking resemblance to Pokémon, prompting accusations of plagiarism.

The is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Series S. 

What’s your take? What do you think about Krafton’s agreement to develop Palworld for mobile devices? Let us know over our socials here or in the comments below.