Palworld Releases Unexpected Hotfix Update Following Nintendo Lawsuit

Pocketpair has released a stunning hotfix update for Palworld just hours after the announcement of a patent infringement lawsuit by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

On September 19, Nintendo, in conjunction with The Pokémon Company, disclosed that they had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developers behind Palworld.

This lawsuit, filed on September 18 in the Tokyo District Court, seeks compensation for damages Pocketpair allegedly caused by infringing upon Nintendo’s intellectual property.

In the wake of the lawsuit, Pocketpair did not issue an official statement. The game’s Community Manager acknowledged the situation in a now-deleted tweet featuring a smiling emoji.

Nevertheless, shortly after the lawsuit news broke, Palworld received an unexpected hotfix on Xbox, with the update issued without any reference to the ongoing legal conflict.

v0.3.7 Xbox Hotfix
We have applied a hotfix to a fatal bug on the Xbox version where wild Pals and base Pals would sometimes stop moving and working. The same issue is occurring in the Steam version in limited circumstances, and we are currently investigating the cause. Thank… https://t.co/tuYKokqC73

— Palworld (@Palworld_EN) September 19, 2024

Announced via the Palworld X (formerly Twitter) account, the update addressed a “fatal”bug in the Xbox version, where Pals would sporadically cease movement and functionality. The developers also acknowledged that a similar issue exists on the Steam version and are currently investigating it.

“Thank you for your continued support of Palworld,” the hotfix update stated, which is a customary way for Pocketpair to conclude patch notes.

It’s essential to highlight that when developers implement updates for console games like Xbox, the approval process typically takes longer compared to platforms like Steam. Console updates require prior approval before they can be released to players.

This suggests that the update was likely in development before the lawsuit emerged, yet the developers chose not to delay its rollout amid the sudden legal circumstances.

“Lawsuits can’t stop the hotfixes!” one player observed, while many others expressed surprise that Pocketpair proceeded with an update despite the major news.

“Bro gives no f**k about Nintendo,” one fan remarked on Palworld‘s post. “Does bro know they’re getting sued?” another humorously questioned.

As of now, Pocketpair has not issued an official comment regarding the lawsuit.

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