Modders are stepping in to restore features in Palworld that were removed due to legal pressures from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following recent patches altering key mechanics, developers suggest these changes were necessary to comply with ongoing patent litigation.
Launched in early 2024, Palworld quickly set records on platforms like Steam and Xbox Game Pass, becoming a commercial triumph. Despite initial financial challenges, Pocketpair swiftly capitalized on its success by signing a partnership with Sony to expand the franchise. However, legal disputes arose when Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed patent infringement claims, seeking monetary compensation and an injunction against the game.
One contentious feature under scrutiny is the Pal Sphere mechanism, which resembles Pokémon-catching mechanics from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Recent patches, such as v0.3.11, removed the ability to summon Pals via throwing Pal Spheres, replacing it with a static summon option. Further adjustments in Patch v0.5.5 eliminated gliding through Pals, relying instead on traditional gliders.
Despite these alterations, modders are fighting back. A notable example is Primarinabee’s Glider Restoration mod, available on Nexus Mods. Released on May 10, this mod restores gliding functionality using Pals while maintaining compatibility with future updates. Although it requires players to own a glider, it effectively reverses the effects of Patch v0.5.5.
A similar effort exists for restoring the Pal Sphere mechanic, though current iterations lack the original ball-throwing animation. The longevity of these mods remains uncertain as the lawsuit continues.
During the Game Developers Conference, IGN interviewed John “Bucky” Buckley, Pocketpair’s communications director, who discussed various challenges faced by the studio, including allegations of plagiarism and AI misuse. Buckley admitted the legal issues caught the team by surprise, emphasizing their unexpected nature.
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