Palworld Crossed a Line That Shouldn’t Be Crossed, Says Ex-CAPCOM Designer Amid Nintendo Lawsuit
Following Pocketpair’s announcement that it would launch version 1.0 of Palworld in 2026, former CAPCOM designer Yoshiki Okamoto, known for his work on Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Dino Crisis and more, shared his strong opinion on the controversy surrounding Nintendo’s ongoing lawsuit.
In a recent video message posted on his personal YouTube channel, Okamoto criticized Palworld’s similarities to Pokémon and urged fans not to support the game while it is under litigation.
“I personally believe Palworld crossed a line that should not be crossed, and I don’t want the world to become a place where this kind of thing is acceptable,” Okamoto said. “I don’t want it to be like, it’s okay because it sold well, or because it was fun, or because it has good reviews. If a settlement is reached with Nintendo, then I think Palworld will become a game that is officially fine to play. However, it is currently a game that’s being sued, so it’s unacceptable. By playing the game, you are supporting it, so please do not buy it.”
Okamoto’s comments sparked heated discussion among gamers. While some agreed that Palworld may have gone too far in borrowing concepts from Pokémon, others pointed out that some of Okamoto’s own projects at CAPCOM also drew heavy inspiration from existing titles of their era. This fueled arguments around whether originality in game design can ever be fully “pure” or whether the industry thrives on iteration and homage.
The controversy stems from Nintendo’s lawsuit against Pocketpair, filed in September 2024, alleging patent infringement. Earlier this year, Nintendo argued in court that game mods do not count as ‘prior art’, bolstering its case. The litigation forced Pocketpair to make visible changes, such as removing the ability to summon Pals with spheres, a mechanic that closely mirrored Poké Balls.
Interestingly, the rivalry deepened when Pocketpair revealed a new farming simulator spin-off, Palworld: Palfarm, just eleven days after Nintendo announced Pokémon Pokopia, a cozy farming game currently in development at Koei Tecmo, also scheduled for a 2026 release.
The gaming community remains divided:
Pocketpair defenders argue that Palworld, while inspired by Pokémon, introduces enough new mechanics - such as survival crafting, open-world exploration, and firearm combat - to stand as its own IP.
Nintendo supporters insist that the similarities cross into infringement, potentially setting a dangerous precedent if left unchecked.
Whether Pocketpair is pushing creativity within legal gray zones, or whether Nintendo is overextending its legal muscle to suppress competition, will be determined in the courtroom. Until then, both companies will continue to influence how intellectual property boundaries are interpreted in the gaming industry.
What do you think: Is Pocketpair in the wrong, or is Nintendo acting as a bad actor for the gaming community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
