Palworld Developer Surprise Launches Another Game on Nintendo Switch Despite Lawsuit

Pocketpair's Surprise Nintendo Switch Release Amidst Legal Battle

Pocketpair, the developer embroiled in a patent infringement lawsuit, unexpectedly launched its 2019 title, OverDungeon, on the Nintendo eShop. This action card game, blending tower defense and roguelike elements, marks Pocketpair's first Nintendo Switch release.

The company's move comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings. In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed suit against Pocketpair, alleging that Palworld's Pal Spheres infringe on Pokémon's creature-capturing patents. Despite the controversy, OverDungeon's launch was celebrated with a 50% discount until January 24th. The decision to release OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop, while Palworld is available on PS5 and Xbox, has sparked speculation online, with some suggesting it's a strategic response to the lawsuit.

OverDungeon, initially a Steam release, is now available on Nintendo Switch consoles. This unexpected release follows a December update for Palworld, which saw a surge in concurrent Steam players.

Pocketpair's History of Nintendo Comparisons:

OverDungeon isn't Pocketpair's first game drawing comparisons to Nintendo titles. Craftopia, released in 2020, bore similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite the ongoing legal issues, Pocketpair continues to support both Craftopia and Palworld, with the latter recently announcing a collaboration with Terraria and future plans including a Mac port and a potential mobile release. The Terraria crossover, featuring a new Pal named Meowmeow, is just the beginning of planned content throughout 2025.

The legal battle between Pocketpair, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company remains ongoing, with potential for a lengthy resolution. Despite the lack of public updates from the involved parties, Pocketpair's continued development and release of new titles highlights their commitment to moving forward.