A fan petition asking Nintendo to drop its lawsuits againstPalworldis gaining traction just three days after it was started. The base-building, monster-collecting title by indie developer Pocketpair has drawn a dedicated fanbase in the year and a half that it’s been out. But the game has also drawn the attention of Nintendo and the Pokémon Company for its resemblance toPokémon,landing Pocketpair in a legal battle against the two industry giants.
Pocketpair wassued by Nintendo and Pokémonin September of last year, though the small company hasn’t let this slow it down. Buoyed by its growing community, the indie developer has been refusing to back down. The community is now banding together once again to show Nintendo that it supports the plucky underdog in this fight: A petition asking Nintendo to drop its legal action againstPalworldwas started on May 10 by Jamesen DeMann onChange.org, andhas already gathered 176 signatures.
Petition Asks Nintendo To Stop Trying To Suppress Palworld
It Argues That Devs Like Pocketpair Are Good For The Gaming Industry As A Whole
The petition notes that Nintendo has been taking more legal actions against developers and creators who make games with similar visuals or mechanics to thePokémonfranchise. While DeMann realizes that this is coming from a desire to protect its intellectual property,they note that doing so “stifles the creativity that the gaming community thrives on.“The petition argues that many gaming features, mechanics, and even entire genres exist today as a result of developers who “build on each other’s creations to innovate and enhance the gaming experience.”
Rather than making demands or using aggressive language,DeMann’s petition attempts to appeal to Nintendo’s role as an industry leader.It states:
“Nintendo has always been a revered brand in the realm of gaming, known for its imaginative storytelling and unique gameplay. It’s time for them to lead the gaming industry not through the suppression of potential, but by encouraging diversity.”
The petition ends on a call to action: sign the petition to encourage Nintendo to drop its legal actions against Pocketpair andrethink the way it sees other developers. “It’s time to stand together for the future of gaming,” the petition ends, “one that is vibrant, innovative, and free from unwarranted suppression.”
Palworld Still Going Strong Despite Legal Troubles
Big Updates Are In The Cards For The Game
A clash betweenPokémonandPalworldseemed inevitable from the beginning, andPocketpair has indicated its readiness to fight this battle to its end. The indie game has alreadyhad to make some changesin light of the lawsuit, including gliding on Pals and changing the mechanic of calling Pals into battle. However, the game has otherwise continued as planned, even releasing an expansion andcoming to the PS5 late last year.
The Pocketpair team is also working on some updates not directly related to the core game. The indie dev studioplans to release a dating gamein thePalworlduniverse and a largecollaboration with the 2D exploration game,Terraria.It’s unlikely that Nintendo will heed players' calls and back off from the indie dev, even if the petition reaches many more signatures. However, the show of support makes it clear that the game has reached many fans.
