Summary
Palworldis officially coming to mobile devices, with the developer behindPUBG Mobileconfirming that a port of one of 2024’s most notorious games is in the works. The ultra-popularPokemon-adjacent survival game will debut on mobile devices in the near future thanks to a new licensing agreement between Krafton and Pocketpair. The news follows the surprise release ofPalworldon PlayStation 5 and comes amid a legal dispute between the game’s developer and Nintendo.
Few games have managed to stir up quite as much controversy asPalworld. Officially released at the start of 2024,Palworldbecame one of the most successful gameson PC and Xbox, praised for its fun visuals and survival mechanics. The fact thatPalworldlaunched on Microsoft’s subscription-based Game Pass service likely helped boostPalworld’s success, though it wasn’t surprising to many that aPokemon-inspired game with guns would be a hit.Palworldquickly became one of Steam’s most played titles, and while it’s certainly dropped in terms of concurrent players, the game remains popular, leading to its release on PlayStation 5 and soon on mobile devices.
According to Krafton’s announcement, the development team at PUBG Studios strives to “faithfully reinterpret and implement the original’s fun elements to fit the mobile environment. " A release date was not shared, thoughPalworldfans can now look forward to continuing their survival journeys on their handheld devices. This announcement comes at a very tumultuous time for the game, withNintendo suingPalworld’s developersover its similarities to thePokemonfranchise.
Palworld Mobile Port Confirmed Amid Nintendo Lawsuit
While it’s easy to see thePokemoninspiration in the visuals ofPalworld, Nintendo alleges Pocketpair is actually guilty of infringing on various patents held by the company.Palworlddevelopers responded, claiming they had not yet been made aware of the specific infringements in Nintendo’s lawsuit. In a recent interview, Pocketpair’s Global Community Manager John “Bucky” Buckley discussed the company’s rapid expansion and the effect it has had on the studio, as well as what it intends to do now that it’s facing legal action from Nintendo. “It’s been an absolute whirlwind,” said Buckley. “Things were really quiet and relaxed for us last year and thenPalworldlaunched.”
Buckley stated Nintendo’s lawsuit wouldnot have any effect on the studio’s plans forPalworld. “We refuse for any plans to be changed. We march on,” he said.Palworldis already a big success on PlayStation 5, though the console version of the game is noticeably not available in Japan. After discussing PS5 sales, Buckley mentioned that Japan had more activePalworldplayers than any other country except China, suggesting thatPalworldmay already be starting to feel the effects of Nintendo’s lawsuit. WhilePalworld’s future is unknown, the confirmation of a mobile port indicates good things for fans of the title.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
