Nintendo’s Legal Battle with Palworld Continues
Nintendo’s lawyers have abolished another key Palworld gameplay feature. On Thursday, Pocketpair released a patch that altered the gliding mechanism in the satirical "Pokémon with guns" game.
Although gliding is still possible in Palworld, the method has changed. With the introduction of patch v0.5.5, players can now only use a standard, inanimate glider from their inventory to glide. While Glider Pals still offer passive gliding buffs, the experience is less engaging than using the creature’s aerodynamics to traverse a ravine.
The reasoning behind Pocketpair’s decision stems from its ongoing legal defense. Last year, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company initiated a lawsuit against the developer in Japan, alleging patent infringement by Palworld. Since then, Nintendo has filed multiple patent applications in the US as part of an apparent strategy to expand its legal challenge globally.
Pocketpair expressed its understanding that the changes may disappoint fans, stating, "We hope our fans understand that these changes are necessary to avoid further disruptions to Palworld‘s development."
This update is not the first to make significant changes to the game in an effort to counter Nintendo’s legal actions. In November, Palworld removed the ability to summon Pals using Spheres, a mechanic reminiscent of Pokémon. However, gliding is a less established feature in the Pokémon series and is more commonly found in various other franchises, including Far Cry, Fortnite, and Batman: Arkham.
The lawsuit has raised concerns that large companies may increasingly use the courts to stifle smaller competitors. A Reddit user, u/DenseCalligrapher219, commented, "The concept of video game patent mechanics needs to be abolished, as it is either exploited by major companies to cripple competition or wasted, as seen with the Nemesis system from Middle-earth games."
Another perspective on Nintendo’s actions is that they divert attention from the stagnation of the Pokémon franchise. u/VacantThoughts wrote, "If Nintendo is going to sabotage other Pokémon-like games, they should at least develop a Pokémon game that isn’t subpar. The world’s largest franchise has the laziest developers."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/palworld-removes-pal-gliding-as-it-continues-its-legal-battle-with-nintendo-200644597.html?src=rss
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