Krafton has partnered with Pocketpair to create a mobile version of Palworld, an action-adventure survival game that first launched in early access on PC and Xbox in January.
The collaboration, announced on Wednesday, aims to bring the game’s captivating elements to mobile users despite ongoing legal challenges from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company over alleged patent infringements.
Krafton, known for “PUBG: Battlegrounds,” will work with its PUBG Studios to develop this mobile adaptation. The company expressed its intent to “faithfully reinterpret and implement the main fun elements of the original for the mobile environment,” although no specific launch timeline has been set. The mobile version will be available on iOS, Android, and iPadOS platforms.
Palworld’s Success and Expansion
Since its initial release, Palworld quickly became a hit, breaking player count records on Steam and boasting sales of 15 million copies and 10 million Xbox players in just over a month. On September 25, it extended its reach to PS5.
Palworld has stirred controversy with its “Pokémon-style” creatures, known as Pals, which players can capture and use for combat, exploration, and building within the game’s expansive open world. This has led to accusations of plagiarism, earning it the nickname “Pokémon with guns.”
Amid these claims, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have pursued legal action against Pocketpair, seeking damages and an injunction against the game. Pocketpair has recognized the lawsuit but claims unawareness of the specific copyright issues, stating the legal proceedings divert significant resources away from game development.
