Palworld modders restore features after Nintendo lawsuit

Fan-Made Fixes Emerge Amid Legal Battle

The Palworld modding community has begun reinstating gameplay features that developer Pocketpair removed following legal pressure from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Last week, the studio acknowledged that recent updates altered mechanics due to ongoing patent litigation.

• Palworld debuted strongly in early 2024, becoming available on Steam for $30 and launching directly into Game Pass
• The game shattered sales records and concurrent player counts
• Pocketpair formed Palworld Entertainment through a Sony partnership to expand the franchise
• The studio later released a PS5 version of the survival-crafting title

The Patent Dispute Explained

Rather than pursuing copyright claims regarding creature designs, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company focused their legal challenge on patented game mechanics. The lawsuit specifically targets three Japanese patents related to:

• Catching creatures in virtual environments
• The ball-throwing capture system reminiscent of Pokémon Legends: Arceus
• Original Palworld mechanics involving Pal Spheres

Forced Gameplay Changes

The controversial Patch v0.3.11 implemented in November 2024 notably:

• Removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pal Spheres
• Replaced the mechanic with stationary summoning
• Included several other gameplay adjustments

The v0.5.5 update introduced last week changed gliding mechanics:

• Players must now equip gliders rather than using Pals
• Pals still provide passive gliding buffs
• The inventory requires carrying a glider item

Modding Community Responds

Within days of the glider changes:

• Modder Primarinabee released the Glider Restoration mod
• The Nexus Mods download reverses v0.5.5's modifications
• The solution maintains compatibility with future updates

Buckley described the patent lawsuit as:

• An unexpected development for the studio
• A situation nobody had anticipated
• The reason behind controversial gameplay alterations

While full restoration of the original Pal Sphere mechanics remains challenging:

• Existing mods approximate but don't perfectly replicate pre-update functionality
• Animation-free summoning represents current technical limitations

The Future Uncertainty

Industry observers question:

• The longevity of restored features via mods
• Potential legal responses from Nintendo
• Whether further mechanics might face removal

The Palworld team maintains:

• Changes represent necessary compromises
• The alternative could have harmed the player experience more severely
• The studio aims to preserve gameplay quality despite legal constraints