The ‘Please Don’t Buy Palworld’ Controversy Explained

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Palworld caused quite a stir even before its release, quickly becoming known as “Pokemon with guns.” It’s widely acknowledged that Palworld borrows a lot from Pokemon in how its creatures look and how the game is played, which led to a lawsuit from Nintendo. Pocketpair, the game’s developer, is still dealing with this lawsuit after more than a year. Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to determine if Pocketpair violated any patents, but many gamers-and even some game developers-have been sharing their thoughts on the matter.

So, I recently saw a video from Yoshiki Okamoto – he used to work at Capcom – and he’s come out pretty strongly against Palworld and the lawsuit Nintendo has filed. Basically, he thinks it’s wrong to play the game Palworld while things are still being sorted out legally. He feels that “by playing it (Palworld), you are supporting it. So please don’t buy it.” It’s definitely stirred up a lot of discussion among us gamers, and a lot of people are giving Okamoto some flak for saying that.

Former Capcom Developer Yoshiki Okamoto Says Palworld Has ‘Crossed a Line’

While Okamoto isn’t currently a developer, he has a remarkable 40-year history in the gaming world and now serves as the chairman of the Japan Game Culture Foundation. With experience at companies such as Konami and Capcom, and having established studios like Flagship and Game Republic, Okamoto has been instrumental in creating games including:

  • Gyruss (1982) — Konami
  • Time Pilot (1983) — Konami
  • 1942 (1984) — Capcom
  • Gun.Smoke (1985) — Capcom
  • Final Fight (1989) — Capcom
  • Street Fighter 2 (1991) — Capcom
  • Resident Evil (1996) — Capcom

With a long and respected career in gaming, Okamoto’s criticisms of Palworld have sparked considerable discussion. In this video, Okamoto explains that opinions on Palworld generally fall into two groups – supporters and detractors – and that he firmly belongs to the latter, even though many have suggested he try the game. While Okamoto is leveraging his YouTube channel and influence as a gaming icon to encourage a boycott until the ongoing legal issues are resolved, fans and other YouTube users have challenged his claim that Palworld has “crossed a line.”

Palworld’s Ongoing Legal Battle with Nintendo Has Sparked Controversy

The legal action Nintendo took against Palworld has sparked debate among fans and gamers. Instead of claiming Palworld‘s creatures (Pals) directly copy Pokémon designs, Nintendo argues the game infringes on their patented game mechanics. These include features like rideable mounts and the ability to capture and release creatures. Although there’s been no agreement yet, Okamoto thinks Palworld has gone too far and could encourage others to copy Nintendo’s work-possibly even using generative AI to do so.

As a reaction, Palworld players have highlighted how patents can stifle innovation for smaller game studios. They argue that a company like Nintendo shouldn’t be able to stop others from building on existing game ideas and features. Furthermore, fans have noted that Okamoto’s worries about AI technology are actually reinforcing the false claim that Pocketpair used it to create Palworld.

Palworld’s 1.0 Release May Come with Cause for Concern

Since the legal battle isn’t expected to finish until at least mid-2026, Palworld‘s plans for its 1.0 release might be delayed due to this lawsuit. Pocketpair is hoping to fully release the game within the next year. Okamoto worries that if Palworld wins the case and launches version 1.0, it could set a bad precedent, suggesting that copying is okay if a game becomes popular. However, he also believes that “if a settlement is reached with Nintendo, then I think it’s officially a game that everyone can play.” This seems to support his view that players should avoid buying Palworld while the lawsuit is happening and wait for a resolution before deciding whether or not to support the game.

Okamoto’s video doesn’t mention the new spin-off game, Palworld: Palfarm, nor does he share his opinion on Palworld‘s partnerships with games such as Terraria, Ultrakill, and Once Human.

Despite the legal issues Palworld is facing, it seems fans are still very supportive, as seen in the comments on Okamoto’s video. Okamoto thinks Pocketpair might be moving too quickly with the official release, continuing sales during the lawsuit. Palworld has made some changes to the game, like swapping some Pals for Gliders, not because they admit any wrongdoing, but as a safety measure in case they lose the lawsuit and have to pay damages. The outcome of Nintendo’s lawsuit will likely impact how Palworld‘s 1.0 release is ultimately affected, so fans may have to wait for a resolution.

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2025-10-03 01:04