Copying Pokémon again? The physical card of Mythical Beast Paru announced sparks controversy! The developer retorts to players: If you don't like it, go play other games.

Once again, Palworld, the survival game that was previously sued by Nintendo for alleged plagiarism of Pokémon, has stirred up new waves. The official announcement of a physical card game set for release this July has sparked skepticism among players who accuse it of “copying Pokémon’s model again.” Designer Buckley responded rarely with a firm stance: “Criticism has been ongoing for two years; it’s your own problem.”
(Background recap: Nintendo sues Palworld for copying Pokémon! Netizens joke: The strongest legal team gets fat for a year before striking.)
(Additional background: Palworld admits “Nintendo’s legal team is too terrifying”: Officially announces removal of Pokéball throwing and gliding mechanisms.)

The survival game Palworld, which has been available for over two years, recently became a hot topic again. With the official announcement of a physical trading card game, Palworld Official Card Game, set for release this July, online discussions have heated up, accompanied by many doubts.

In response to external criticism, Palworld’s designer and publisher manager John “Bucky” Buckley responded rarely and firmly, stating that ongoing criticism “after two years, is your own problem.”

Players question “repeating Pokémon’s model,” developers retort

Buckley expressed on social media that he is pleased to see players’ expectations and discussions about the card game, but also noticed some online backlash.

He pointed out that during the game’s early access launch, it became a target of attack, which he understands as a way to attract attention. However, now that two years have passed, and people continue to criticize, he couldn’t help but ask:

“Maybe you should spend your time better playing other games.”

The announced card game is widely compared to the Pokémon series. Some fans believe Palworld is repeating Pokémon’s successful model, and some question whether the development team should focus resources on the main game, which is not yet officially completed, rather than releasing derivative works.

In response, Buckley emphasized that in today’s game market, there are many choices. If players do not agree with a certain work, they can completely switch to other games.

1.0 official version is scheduled for release this year, with the developer emphasizing “no impact”

On the other hand, developer Pocketpair also revealed that the highly anticipated 1.0 official version of Palworld is expected to be released within this year, meaning the game will soon leave early access. The official also stressed that the development of the card game will not affect the main game’s progress.

It is worth noting that since its launch in early 2024, Palworld set a record with over 1.29 million concurrent players on Steam, but it was also accused of highly resembling Pokémon in character design, leading Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to file a patent infringement lawsuit in September 2024.

Subsequently, the development team has gradually removed controversial mechanisms such as “throwing Palballs” and “riding Pal to glide,” which was interpreted as a compromise under pressure from Nintendo’s legal team.