The Pokémon Company says it plans to investigate copycat claims against online multiplayer sensation Palworld.
Fans have been pointing out similarities after the new title exploded in popularity this week.
In its first statement since, the Pokémon Company said it would take “appropriate action” if it found its copyright had been breached.
The boss of Palworld maker Pocketpair has said the game passed legal checks before release.
Palworld quickly earned the nickname “Pokémon with guns” when its first trailer was unveiled in 2021.
Like the popular Nintendo franchise, it also centres around collecting dozens of strange creatures with different abilities.
And it was the designs of Palworld’s companions that sparked copycat accusations which resurfaced after its extraordinary launch on PC and Xbox last Friday.
Some commentators went as far as suggesting the new game had directly copied from the bigger title, a claim neither company has directly addressed.
But the Pokémon Company has put out a statement, which doesn’t name Palworld, but refers to “another company’s game released in January 2024”.
It says it has “received many inquiries” about that title, and it had “not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets”.
“We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights,” the company added.
The company has not formally launched legal action against Pocketpair.
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