In an unexpected turn of events, Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, has released its 2019 game OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop. This announcement comes amid ongoing scrutiny, as Pocketpair has faced criticism for alleged patent violations related to Palworld from both Nintendo and The Pokemon Company.
In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company took legal action against Pocketpair regarding its well-known monster-taming game, Palworld. The lawsuit claims that Palworld’s Pal Spheres, which function similarly to Pokeballs, violate certain patents related to Pokemon’s creature-capturing mechanics. This legal battle has stirred up significant debate within the gaming community
On January 9, Pocketpair surprised everyone by launching OverDungeon for the Nintendo Switch. Originally released on Steam in 2019, this action card game combines tower defense and roguelike elements, as detailed on the Nintendo eShop. This marks Pocketpair’s first venture into the Switch market, and the company had not hinted at this release beforehand.
Pocketpair Launches Its First Nintendo Switch Game Amid Lawsuit
Palworld has gained significant attention as Pocketpair’s most popular game, but it’s not the first to draw comparisons to a Nintendo classic. Back in 2020, Pocketpair launched Craftopia, an RPG that bore a striking resemblance to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game is still receiving updates on Steam, with the latest one released in December.
Since the lawsuit came to light, there has been a noticeable lack of updates from the parties involved. Patent experts suggest that the legal battle over Nintendo’s Palworld could drag on for years if a settlement isn’t achieved. In addition to their collaboration with Terraria, Pocketpair has hinted at exciting developments for Palworld in 2025, which may include a Mac version and possibly a mobile release as well.