Recently, accusations were made against Palworld that it had copied Pokémon’s designs for its catchable monsters. And now, in a bold move, a modder has taken things a step further by fully embracing the similarities between the two games. YouTube user ToastedShoes has created an overhaul mod that replaces Palworld’s “Pals” with their unmistakable Pokémon counterparts. This means that the creatures in Palworld, who were reminiscent of Pokémon, are now just straight-up Pokémon.
Picture a world where Pikachu and Oddish are not just adorable creatures but also wield guns and toil away in mines and factories. That is exactly what this mod achieves. Gone are the Palworld clones; instead, players can now enjoy capturing and interacting with iconic Pokémon in a completely different setting. From first-generation favorites like Pikachu to later additions like Piplup, Hoothoot, and Torchic, the mod brings a refreshing twist to Palworld’s gameplay.
In addition to swapping out Palworld’s creatures for Pokémon, the mod also changes the player character model to Ash Ketchum, the beloved protagonist from the Pokémon anime series. This allows players to experience the game from the perspective of the famous Pokémon trainer himself. But the transformation doesn’t stop there; Palworld’s NPCs have been replaced with familiar faces from the Pokémon series, namely Ash’s companion gym leaders, Brock and Misty. The mod even depicts Misty carrying a shotgun, adding an unexpected element to the mix.
One of Palworld’s boss encounters involved a character named Zoe and an Electabuzz-like creature called Grizzbolt. However, in the mod, this encounter takes a different turn. Instead of facing Zoe and Grizzbolt, players now go up against Team Rocket’s Jessie and an actual Electabuzz. This change further blurs the line between Palworld and Pokémon, bringing the two franchises even closer together.
While Palworld itself may argue that it doesn’t infringe upon Pokémon’s copyright due to its similar-but-not-identical monster designs, this mod undeniably showcases a direct connection between the two games. The mod raises questions about potential copyright violations and the originality of Palworld’s in-game models. It’s uncertain how Nintendo will react to a mod that essentially gives Pikachu a machine gun, possibly crossing a line that Palworld itself managed to avoid.
The developers of Palworld, Pocketpair, have maintained that they had no intention of infringing upon any intellectual property and ensured that the game underwent all necessary legal checks before its release on Steam. Despite the controversy, Palworld has witnessed unprecedented success since its launch, quickly becoming one of the standout games of 2024.
The mod created by ToastedShoes injects an exciting twist into Palworld by replacing the Pokémon-inspired creatures with actual Pokémon. This modification not only changes the gameplay experience but also raises legal and copyright concerns. While Pocketpair may have aimed to create a unique game, the mod highlights the striking similarities between Palworld and Pokémon, perhaps even more so than the original release itself. Only time will tell how this controversy will unfold and whether it will have any lasting impact on the gaming industry.
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